Kate Gardner
The Forecaster
Portland, ME, United States
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Past articles by Kate:
Yarmouth residents provide temporary housing for asylum seekers –
YARMOUTH — Local church members are coming together to provide temporary housing for Portland-based asylum seekers. The Compassionate Housing Initiative is a partnership between three churches that places asylum-seekers with host families. The program was created to assist new Mainers when there is overflow at family shelters in Portland. “This was one of those things that happened in response… → Read More
Portland-Freeport commuter bus to launch June 16
YARMOUTH — The pilot METRO express bus service from Portland to Freeport will start June 16. The Greater Portland Transit District held a meeting Tuesday night at Merrill Memorial Library to discuss the three-year program. It was the first in a series of meetings to discuss the express service and other METRO services. Meetings will also be held at Falmouth Memorial Library, May 4, 5-6:30 p.m.;… → Read More
Cape Elizabeth effort to boost multi-family housing continues to meet resistance
CAPE ELIZABETH — Town councilors Tuesday sent a land-use ordinance amendment designed to promote multi-family housing to the ordinance committee. The amendment was discussed in a Town Council workshop, after → Read More
Yarmouth may revive police dog program
YARMOUTH — The town may get a new police dog if enough money is donated for a canine program. Following the February death of ret... → Read More
Plan for Cape Elizabeth pizzeria shocks tenant, irks restaurant
CAPE ELIZABETH — A plan for a new brick oven pizzeria near Kettle Cove has been approved, but not without objections from other business owners. The Planning Board on Tuesday approved the site plan for Summer Oven, a pizza restaurant planned at 541 Ocean House Road. The proposal for ... → Read More
Cape Elizabeth Town Council sticks to flat-tax school budget
CAPE ELIZABETH — A divided Town Council reduced the School Board's proposed budget Monday by $110,000, avoiding a spending increase from the current year. The decision, over objections from School Board members and members of the public, followed → Read More
Freeport next stop for Maine popcorn purveyor
FREEPORT — Paul and Julie Roberts' unique business will soon be popping up in Freeport. Coastal Maine Popcorn, which also has gourmet popcorn stores in Boothbay Harbor, Portland, and Ro... → Read More
Yarmouth developer sees community in pizza, coffee, groceries, ice cream
YARMOUTH — Although the new Andy's Handy Store will house a variety of businesses, the owners say they aren't trying to create a public market. Instead, Sean Ireland wants to provide Yarmouth with a community space that will meet various needs. Ireland and his cousin Amy Irela... → Read More
Cape Elizabeth School Board willing to meet council half way on budget cuts
CAPE ELIZABETH — The School Board has come up with alternatives after town councilors cut the proposed school budget. Counci... → Read More
Freeport budget hike driven by health-care costs
FREEPORT — A 4.3 percent increase in municipal spending is expected in the 2016 fiscal year, according to Town Manager Peter Joseph and Finance Director Jessica Maloy. Joseph and Maloy on May 5 reported to councilors that this year's budget of $8.9 million is expected to increas... → Read More
Cape Elizabeth council cuts school budget proposal
CAPE ELIZABETH — In a rare exercise of their veto authority, town councilors on Monday rejected the budget proposed by the School Board and reduced it by more than $110,000. The Town Council finance committee, comprised of the entire council, said it wants no spending increase in fis... → Read More
Cape Elizabeth teens phone in their charitable work
CAPE ELIZABETH — Most people don't use flip-phones anymore. Two Cape Elizabeth High School students have learned, though, that this doesn't mean people still don't have them. Freshman Christie Gillies and junior Marcus Donnelly have collected a variety of almost 80 old c... → Read More
Cape Elizabeth School Board trims increase, approves budget
CAPE ELIZABETH — The School Board has approved a budget of $23.6 million for the 2016 fiscal year. The spending plan, approved April 14, is down from → Read More
Cape Elizabeth applies brakes to multi-family housing effort
CAPE ELIZABETH — After hearing residents' concerns, town councilors decided to continue discussion on a proposed land-use ordinance amendment. The amendment, designed to promote development of multi-unit housing, provoked objections from several residents on April 6. The Town Co... → Read More
Freeport as 'art hub'? Advocates believe it's possible
FREEPORT — Local artists hope to shed some light on their work and show residents and tourists alike that there's more to Freeport than just good shopping. The Freeport Players and the → Read More
Cape Elizabeth OKs sharing tax assessor; Scarborough expected to agree
CAPE ELIZABETH — The Town Council has approved sharing the tax assessor with Scarborough. Councilors on Monday, April 6, ... → Read More
Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough may share tax assessor
CAPE ELIZABETH — The town is considering sharing its tax assessor with Scarborough. Scarborough Town Manager Tom Hall on March 17 asked Cape Elizabeth Town Manager Mike McGovern about agreeing to have Cape Elizabeth's tax assessor work for both towns. The Town Council will vot... → Read More
Yarmouth lawmaker revives legislation for disaster tax relief
YARMOUTH — Almost two years after an explosion on Gables Drive left one person dead and destroyed the homes of many others, a local state representative is again trying to ease the... → Read More
RSU 5 expects nearly 9.2% budget increase
FREEPORT — The fiscal 2016 budget for Regional School Unit 5 is expected to increase by $2.5 million, or 9.15 percent. The RSU 5 Board of Directors on March 25 held a budget review meeting to discuss the budget for the Freeport, Durham, and Pownal district. The total operating budget... → Read More
Cape Elizabeth teen hopes to ride lemonade to the top
CAPE ELIZABETH — While most 15-year-olds get summer jobs at grocery stores or pizza places, Nat Jordan has decided to do something a little more entrepreneurial. The Cape Elizabeth High School sophomore is starting his own business, LemonCycle, and plans to launch it this summer in P... → Read More