Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Smiley face
This independent living apartment building on Main Street in Westbrook is one of dozens of properties managed by the mental health organization Shalom House. Employees at Shalom House will begin voting at the end of March on whether they will join the Maine Service Employees Association Local 1989.

Shalom House employees score win toward union effort

As they prepare for an upcoming vote, workers scored a significant win toward an effort to unionize at Shalom House, an organization of dozens...

School budget could presage future financial challenges

In addition to a potentially steep projected budget increase for the 2023-24 academic year, Portland Public Schools will confront an even tougher hurdle next...
Architect Andrew Treworgy (left) in the middle of 317 Main's new Founders Hall, a multi-purpose music hall, part of the $5.8 million expansion project for the music-centered community center. (Portland Phoenix/Evan Edmonds)

317 Main in Yarmouth prepares for renaissance after renovations and expansions

Right in downtown Yarmouth, the now expanded 317 Main Community Music Center is beginning a new chapter, following near-complete expansion of the almost 20-year-old...
a sign outside Edward Payson Park in Portland

Council adds circus and waterfront music festivals to summer season

Portland added two festivals to its summer season, including a traveling circus event and music on the waterfront, at Monday’s council meeting. Circus Smirkus, a...
The Trelawny building at 655 Congress St. (Portland Phoenix/Evan Edmonds)

Portlanders say they were misled and ‘lied to’ by petition effort to undo rent...

Roughly a dozen Portland residents complained to the city that they were misled by deceptive signature-collecting efforts on behalf of a landlords’ group seeking...
fishing nets

Portland Fish Exchange hires new manager

The Portland Fish Exchange has answered a key question about its leadership that has been in flux since last summer. The Fish Exchange, an open-marketplace...
Portland's City Hall in March 2023. (Portland Phoenix/Colin Ellis)

City council eyes forthcoming budget increases

Portland City Councilors favored somewhere between a five- to seven-percent budget increase for the upcoming fiscal year, but expressed concerns with the kind of...
A shot of City Hall in early March 2023. (Portland Phoenix/Colin Ellis)

Portland council begins designing clean elections system

A Portland City Council workshop on Monday night began the process of creating the city’s new clean elections program, likely modeling their program after...
Graves from the 19th century at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland. (Portland Phoenix/Jim Neuger)

Portland’s last active cemetery is nearly out of room

It’s widely known that Portland faces a shortage of available space to house its residents. But it’s also true that Portlanders are running out...
A sign on Willard Beach in South Portland informs visitors of dune restoration efforts. (Portland Phoenix/Evan Edmonds)

South Portland pilot project uses Christmas trees to rebuild Willard Beach dunes

South Portland is giving discarded Christmas trees a new purpose with a project to restore dunes at Willard Beach that were washed away by...