Good morning, Portland.

After her home was lost in a fire on Aug.

23, Windham residents raised nearly $6,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to help pre-kindergarten teacher Kaitlyn Hill get back on her feet — she is staying with relatives while rebuilding her life.

The Teal Duck cocktail bar in Old Port on Exchange Street will launch Friday in the former space of The Bar and Bites.

The venue offers a 14-seat bar and 55 tables, serving 11 cocktails, two mocktails, wine, bottled beers, plus charcuterie boards until 10 p.m. weekdays (11 p.m. weekends).

Somali chef Ifrah F. Ahmed will discuss her debut cookbook Soomaaliya at Coffee by Design on Friday, Oct.

2 from 6—8 p.m. and host a free meet-and-greet at Portland Community Squash from 1—3 p.m.

Brass Roots Fest is a free one-day event with live music, art, and food trucks set for Sept.

13 at Bug Light Park in South Portland. Local musician Marc Chillemi launched the festival (he hopes to welcome up to 1,000 guests) to celebrate diverse sounds and community spirit.

A new soul food & Ethiopian restaurant is set for a soft opening Friday at 683 Forest Ave in Woodfords Corner with limited operating hours until its official launch later this month.

The 50 seat establishment will operate from Thursday to Monday from noon until 9:30 p.m. during its soft opening phase.

Local artist Carly Glovinski established Wild Knoll Foundation Garden to recreate the house memorialized in May Sarton's 'The House by the Sea' using original blueprints.

The 1,800 sqft living art exhibit hosts seasonal community events & plant sales by appointment through Surf Point Foundation.

Portland Public Schools reopened Monday for over 6,200 students in 16 schools after more than 70 days out of class; kindergarten and pre-K begin Tuesday while teachers returned last week to prepare for the year.

Superintendent Ryan Scallon now faces challenges under a new state law banning cell phones.

Portland prohibits parking on a street solely to wash & repair a vehicle, except for emergency fixes, and a $25 fine is charged for violations.

The rule, in effect since at least 1997, also bans using street parking for advertising, sale displays, or storing a car for more than 10 consecutive days.

Upgrades at Congress Square will continue through October after crews encountered unstable bedrock during signal foundation work (requiring design changes); work is expected to resume on Sept.

8 with a target finish by Halloween, adding new ADA-compliant sidewalks, lighting, and landscaping.

A former client described ongoing staffing and care issues at group homes run by Paradise Residential Services, citing unsanitary conditions and lack of supervision.

The provider was terminated in June by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services after safety violations were found, though it disputes the claims.

Southern Maine high school field hockey teams such as Cheverus and Biddeford are gearing up for a competitive fall season—each team with returning stars is aiming for a top finish in state matchups.

91-year-old hiker Dale Sanders (Grey Beard) reclaimed his record as the oldest person to complete the Appalachian Trail when he finished atop Katahdin Monday.

He faced many falls and tough days during the 2,193-mile journey that began Sept. 6 in West Virginia.