Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What Portland’s new social housing plan could mean for your rent

And check out Learn The Truth About Getting Rid Of Your Stuff on the Portland Patch calendar

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Friday August 28th Patch AM
Friday August 28th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Morning Portland! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What Portland's new social housing plan could mean for your rent
  • How a quirky 'TP-cutting' just changed downtown Portland's walkability
  • Will a $50 million stadium reshape Portland's waterfront and traffic?

Also on today's calendar: Learn The Truth About Getting Rid Of Your Stuff and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the tree say when Spring arrived? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

  • Friday: An afternoon t-storm; humid, with a high of 77 and low of 58 degrees.
  • Saturday: Periods of sun; less humid, temps: high: 75, low: 57.
  • Sunday: Intervals of clouds and sun, with a high of 82 and low of 66 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Portland Social Housing Task Force Delivers Final Report, Council Review Set for September (themainewire.com) — Portland's Social Housing Task Force has delivered its final report, outlining how the city could directly develop and own permanently affordable, mixed-income housing. Councilors will dig into the recommendations at a Sept. 28 workshop, a key step that could reshape how Portland uses public land, borrowing power, and housing programs to address the city's affordability crisis.
   

2. Portland celebrates new public restroom with 'TP-cutting' ceremony (wgme.com) — A new public restroom has opened at the Portland Downtown offices, giving pedestrians and visitors a much-needed, year-round option in the city's core. After a lighthearted "TP-cutting" ceremony with local leaders, officials emphasized that better restroom access supports walkability, tourism, and a more welcoming downtown experience for residents and businesses alike.
   

3. Hearts of Pine holds first public input session on proposed stadium at Cassidy Point (wmtw.com) — A proposed $50 million Hearts of Pine stadium at Cassidy Point is moving into public review, with neighbors raising concerns about traffic, parking, and impacts on Portland's Working Waterfront. The team needs a zoning change from the city council, is eyeing 1,500 off-site parking spaces, and says it will privately fund the stadium while seeking public money for nearby transportation upgrades.
   

4. Maine towns push to swap turf lawns for wild native habitats (pressherald.com) — Portland and South Portland are pushing residents to swap traditional lawns for native plant gardens, aiming to protect Casco Bay, support pollinators, and cool dense neighborhoods. Programs like Grow Wild Portland and South Portland's Resilient Yard offer coaching, templates, and local nursery support so homeowners and renters can turn small yards and esplanades into low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly habitats that build community connections.
   

5. Canada drops Maine seafood from retaliatory tariff list, easing pressure on fishermen (wgme.com) — From Portland fishermen are getting relief as Canada drops U.S. seafood, including Maine lobster, from its list of retaliatory tariffs, avoiding a 25% hit on a key export. The change protects a crucial cross‑border supply chain, since roughly half of Maine's fall lobster catch is processed in Canadian plants, easing fears of major economic disruption for local harvesters.
   

📸 Around Portland

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Portland

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events
    Monday August 31
  • First Day of School for Grades 1-12
    Howard C Reiche Community Sch Portland, ME 04102
  • First Day of School - Grades 1 through 5
    Ocean Avenue Portland, ME 04103
    • Tuesday September 1
  • First Day of School - Grades Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten
    Ocean Avenue Portland, ME 04103
  • First Day of School for Pre-K & K
    Howard C Reiche Community Sch Portland, ME 04102
  • Kindergarten Coffee for Incoming Kindergarten Parents/Guardians
    Ocean Avenue Outside, in the Front of Elementary (Near Flag Pole)
    11:45 am
    • Wednesday September 2
  • Early Release / Staff PD Students Released at 1:10
    Ocean Avenue Portland, ME 04103
    5:15 pm
    • Friday September 4
  • NO SCHOOL: Labor Day Weekend
    Howard C Reiche Community Sch Portland, ME 04102
    • Saturday September 5
  • Ghostland Beer Release and Merch Pop-Up, feat. Ghost of Paul Revere →
    Allagash Brewing Company, 50 Industrial Wy, Portland
    1:00 pm
    • Saturday September 12
  • Gimme Gimme Disco →
    Aura 121 Center Street Portland, ME 04101
    9:00 pm

📣 Portland Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Portland PatchAM possible:

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • I would like to thank the person persons who left the wonderful days of flowers on my doorstep yesterday.
    They did so anonymously thank you again. It was very touching to see when I got home. (Nextdoor Peaks Island)
  • Munjoy Hill: Anyone who uses a known local dog walker - my husband and I witnessed behavior towards a black poodle that we would never allow.
    Grabbing the harness to pull the dog along, walking/stomping behind the dog to push the dog to walk faster, jerking on the leash. We didn't follow to… (Nextdoor East End)
  • Cumberland Farms posted a job opening for Retail Sales Associate in Portland. Apply here.
  • Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Portland. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Portland here.

Ok Portland! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: What a re-leaf! (Thank you Flo G. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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