Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 14th of May.
Good morning, Portland.
The planning board approved the Boys and Girls Club expansion at the Cumberland Avenue location (corner of Cedar Street) Tuesday night to add a 13,000 sqft teen center for 500 more youth with art, music, and trade spaces.
Construction will start after permits are issued and take 15-18 months.
Keegan McKenney, a former star swimmer from Cape Elizabeth who set high school records, died in a car crash in Charlotte Sunday at 2:15 a.m.+ police are investigating whether speed or impairment were factors.
On Tuesday, Maine Game Warden Joshua Tibbetts died in a plane crash in Avon, as reported by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, marking the 16th fatality in the line of duty for the state service and its first in 15 years.
This week’s poem by James Brasfield, ‘A Separate Light,’ is featured in Deep Water: Maine Poems (a collaboration with Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance).
It offers vivid imagery and a gentle meditation on memory and nature.
Local author Caitlin Shetterly, whose sequel The Gulf of Lions explores motherhood and healing, will join Richard Russo and NPR's Scott Simon for a live conversation at Mechanics Hall on May 20 at 6 p.m. She will discuss her creative process and journey from personal challenge to literary inspiration.
Maine art galleries have scheduled summer shows with a mix of solo and group exhibitions from early June through October.
Venues include Rockport, Camden and Portland (with other towns also featuring events), giving local art lovers diverse opportunities to view both established artists and emerging talent.
Morse High School valedictorian Olivia Drewniak won a $35,000 VFW national scholarship for her essay on patriotism (inspired by her mother's Coast Guard service) and will use the award for her studies in political science and biology at Boston College.
More than 20 educators and community members spoke at a board meeting on Tuesday to urge reinstatement of Lyman Moore teacher Josephine Tibbetts after her contract was not renewed, citing concerns of discrimination.
Protests and messages of support followed as the community called for transparency in school leadership decisions.
Maine readers can make the most of summer by pairing local beaches with a curated list of must-read books, from a coming-of-age story at Sand Beach to sci-fi exploration at Crescent Beach.
The guide offers choices for a refreshing literary escape — perfect for coastal days.
Portland’s planning board approved GreenMars’ proposal on May 12 for a seven-story building with 87 units on Congress Street and Washington Avenue.
The project includes 22 workforce housing units and commercial space and requires a zoning change while facing concerns over parking and scale — signs of an evolving housing market.
Kaden Bedard, a 19-year-old point guard at Newman School, said he will play college basketball at UMaine (where his father Andy Bedard is a local legend) and he expects to bring hard work and community energy to Memorial Gym.
All Roads Music Festival - Day 2
12:00 – 11:59 PM — One Longfellow Square — Ticket prices vary — Experience Savoir Faire's jazz-infused music that connects modern themes to a nostalgic sound.
Curtain Call Discussion – THE LAUGH TRACK
4:15 PM — Portland Stage — Free entry — Engage in an insightful conversation about the production with performers and explore the creative process.
Paint Outdoors in Portland, Maine
9-10 a.m. — Fort Williams Park — Ticketed event — Enjoy a morning of creativity in the scenic outdoors of Fort Williams Park.
Paint Outdoors in Portland
9-10 a.m. — Fort Williams Park — Check the website for ticket prices — Experience creativity in nature while painting at a scenic park.
Paint Outdoors in Portland, Maine
9-10 a.m. — Fort Williams Park — Ticketed entry — Enjoy a morning of outdoor painting at a scenic park in Cape Elizabeth.
Paint Outdoors in Portland, Maine
9-10 a.m. — Fort Williams Park — Ticketed event — Enjoy an outdoor painting session amid the scenic beauty of Fort Williams Park.
High Fade Concert
7-9:30 p.m. — Portland House Of Music and Events — $37 general admission — Enjoy an evening with High Fade at the vibrant Portland venue.
HEY PARTY PEOPLE! Comedy Show
6:30 p.m. — The Hill Arts — $Varies — Experience a night of fast-paced sketches that balance absurdity and relatability with local comedy talent.
Paint Outdoors in Portland
9-10 a.m. — Fort Williams Park — Ticket purchase required — Enjoy a morning of creativity in a beautiful outdoor setting.
Playing Card Painting Workshop
6-8 p.m. — Belleflower Brewing Company — $10 entry — Create unique painted cards while supporting the Maine Cancer Foundation and meet fellow crafting enthusiasts.
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