Here's your local news at a glance for Sunday, the 16th of November.
Good morning, Portland.
South Portland residents met Saturday at the 100-year-old former Mahoney School to share ideas for turning the historic Mahoney City Center into a public space that could combine the library, public safety office and city hall — city officials said more feedback will be gathered before the plan is presented to city council in December.
Chef Eric Bufo at Wayside Food Programs in Portland cooks upscale meals from donated ingredients to serve 800 free meals each week for shelters, schools and senior homes.
He uses fine dining techniques to make familiar dishes and fight food waste — his menu changes daily based on fresh donations.
Portland now has a new rage room in a former Public Works building where visitors pay $40 for a box of items to break—owner Paul Taylor said it took three years to plan the space and it will be open on weekends and Tuesdays.
A new law that ended the shutdown set a cap of 0.4 mg THC per container, and local beverage maker Richard Rohl said he is unsure if the rules will affect his sales because he sells only in licensed dispensaries—he noted that products sold outside regulated stores may face stricter testing that could cut industry profits nationwide.
Portland unveiled Maine’s first electric boat charger at Wright's Wharf as part of a move to reduce emissions and noise in marine transport.
Maine Ocean Farms tested the pilot project on Thursday with its electric aquaculture boat Heron + federal and matching donations funded the $1 million effort to spur cleaner marine travel.
HUD announced a funding shift away from permanent supportive housing to transitional programs with work requirements — a move that state housing officials said could force hundreds of Mainers into homelessness as over 1,600 long-term units lose support.
Advocates warned that shelters may soon be overwhelmed by the policy change.
The state Office of Community Affairs announced $550,000 in grants to help coastal communities prepare for future storms, flooding, and climate risks—towns and groups must apply by Jan.
5 with a 10% non-federal match. Questions will be due by Dec. 15 with answers posted by Dec. 22, and awardees will complete projects by March 31.
Overdose deaths in Maine declined for the third year, falling 23% in the first nine months of 2025 compared to last year—officials credit the drop to more naloxone doses, reduced fentanyl potency, and expanded treatment options.
If the trend continues, Maine could see fewer than 400 overdose deaths by the year's end.
Friday night at Alfond Arena, Maine men's hockey scored four goals in the second period to secure a 7+0 win over Vermont after a weak start in the first, showing the team's strong comeback.
Bates field hockey won a 1-0 game on Saturday with Elsa Copeland scoring early in the third quarter to secure a spot in the NCAA quarterfinals—Bates will meet either Tufts or Williams Sunday in Lewiston.
Thornton Academy beat Bonny Eagle 40—28 in the Class A South final as senior Connor Ayoob ran for 265 yards and scored a late touchdown to secure the win.
The Trojans earned their seventh straight state title game berth and will face Portland next Saturday at Fitzpatrick Stadium in their third consecutive championship matchup.
Stearns Minutemen won the eight-man Small School state championship on Saturday in Auburn with a 20 to 18 victory over Old Orchard Beach, ending the Seagulls' 20-game win streak.
Freshman Lincoln Daisey sealed the win with a fumble recovery with 1:11 left — the first Gold Ball for Stearns since 1998 and a rematch win after last year’s final loss.
The Maine Celtics swept the weekend series by beating the Long Island Nets 127-116 in an NBA G League game Saturday at the Portland Expo.
Ron Harper Jr. scored 31 points — Kendall Brown scored 24 and Kameron Warrens added 21 points in the win.
Bess Jacques & The Strays Live Performance
7:00-8:30 p.m. — Blue Portland Maine — Check for tickets — Experience an eclectic mix of jazz, Americana, and more with lush vocal ballads and vibrant tunes.
2025 The Polar Express Train Ride
4 PM — Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad — Standard pricing — Experience a magical journey to the North Pole on a festive train ride with storytelling and treats.
The Polar Express Train Ride
4 PM — Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad — Standard Pricing — Experience a magical train journey to the North Pole with hot chocolate, cookies, and a visit from Santa.
Maine Mariners vs Norfolk Admirals
3:00-4:30 p.m. — Cross Insurance Arena — $10 tickets — Enjoy an exciting hockey game with fun activities for all ages.
PMP Certification 4-Day Classroom Training
9 a.m.–5 p.m. — Portland Maine — $1599 — Comprehensive PMP certification training offering real-world examples and lifetime access to recordings.
Thanksgiving Celebration at Westin Portland Harborview
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — The Westin Portland Harborview — No refunds — Celebrate Thanksgiving with a festive buffet of holiday favorites and desserts.
Disney On Ice: Road Trip Adventures
12:00 – 1:30 PM — Cross Insurance Arena — Ticket prices vary — Embark on a magical journey with beloved Disney characters in an ice show extravaganza.
2025 The Polar Express Train Ride
2:45 p.m. — Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad — Non-refundable tickets available — Experience a magical ride to the North Pole with hot chocolate, cookies, and holiday cheer.
Tom Rush Concert
8-11 p.m. — One Longfellow Square — Ticket prices vary — Experience the legendary sounds of Tom Rush, a pioneer of American folk music.
Jim Gaffigan - Everything is Wonderful Tour
7-9 p.m. — Cross Insurance Arena — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy a night of laughter with Grammy-nominated comedian Jim Gaffigan as he brings his unique observations on life to Portland.
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