Voters should know soon where a proposed $250 million harness racing track and racino could be located in Biddeford. The Biddeford City Council voted Aug. 17 to let residents decide in November whether they want Scarborough Downs to relocate its harness racing track and build a racino in Biddeford. City officials say a racino could bring nearly 1,000 jobs and millions of dollars to Biddeford. While Scarborough Downs and city officials have provided few details of the plan, Mayor Joanne Twomey said she is confident all questions from voters will be answered before the November referendum. A location for the facility should be announced by mid-September, according to Daniel Stevenson, Biddeford’s director of economic development. << MORE >>

CBGB’s, a well-known punk club, may have closed four years ago in New York City, but Kymara Leechi Lonergan has a new place for the art and music of alternative media to thrive: southern Maine. Leechi Lonergan has scheduled a “happening” – a constantly changing mix of visual art and music – at North Dam Mill in Biddeford and a “museum” at her bed and breakfast, Dock Square Inn and Antiques in Kennebunkport. On Saturday evening, Leechi Lonergan will host the happening at the mill, which is open to the public. The show will include artwork by Billy Name, Jayne County, Detroit Punk Scene and local artist Alex Kaminsky, along with live performances by Jayne County and the War Hols and others.<< MORE >>

Obituaries for the week of Aug. 26, 2010<< MORE >>

News briefs for the week of Aug. 26, 2010<< MORE >>

The Saco wind turbine whirred to life Monday morning, a week after the city council voted to move forward with selling the unit for $130,000. The turbine, which sits atop York Hill next to the train station, was still for three months because of a loose part. Councilors who supported selling the turbine said it has fallen short of expectations and the city will have to pay for all maintenance because the company that sold the unit has gone bankrupt. << MORE >>

Dorothy Green and Sol Crasnick met and fell in love on Old Orchard Beach in 1933. Seventy-seven years later, their daughter, Elaine Crasnick Kahaner, stood at the front of Temple Beth Israel in Old Orchard Beach and listened as others shared their memories of growing up Jewish in Maine. About 100 people gathered for a summer meeting Sunday afternoon at the shul on East Grand Avenue to share stories and learn more about Documenting Maine Jewry, a community-based history project that provides information on Jewish citizens of Maine. Documenting Maine Jewry is working in cooperation with the Maine Historical Society and Maine Humanities Council. << MORE >>

A park overlooking downtown Biddeford will soon replace an empty lot circled by chain-link fence on Williams Court. Efforts by residents and city officials to revitalize the neighborhood will be celebrated Saturday with a groundbreaking ceremony on Williams Court and the second annual South Street Festival. Residents have teamed up with the city since last year to address issues neighbors identified during monthly meetings. Community Development Coordinator Linda Hardacker said residents are proud of their neighborhood and want to foster a stronger sense of community. << MORE >>

When the new University of New England residence hall opens in September, students will study in sunny lounges and zip across campus through a new tunnel under Route 9 in Biddeford. Sokokis Hall is set to open to 300 students and marks the university’s expansion across Route 9. The $24 million project is part of the university’s master campus plan that includes the eventual construction of three more residence halls, a field house and two playing fields. A blue turf field recently was installed near Sokokis Hall. Director of Campus Planning Alan Thibeault said he can picture students ice skating on the man-made pond behind the dorm, grilling on an outdoor patio and taking advantage of large televisions in the first floor lounge to play Wii. The dorm also features an exercise room with personal televisions on each piece of equipment. << MORE >>

A top economic development official from the Obama administration visited Biddeford Monday to learn about redevelopment of the historic mill district. Assistant Secretary of Commerce John Fernandez said this visit was his first to Maine. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree invited Fernandez to the state to showcase examples of economic development opportunities and challenges in southern Maine, including the Portland Waterfront and Brunswick Naval Air Station. Fernandez and Pingree met with mill owner Doug Sanford, state Sen. Nancy Sullivan and city officials at the North Dam Mill before touring the 40-acre mill complex. With the roaring waterfall and hum of construction equipment as a backdrop, Sanford said he is honored to be the steward of the mills where generations of Biddeford families went to work.<< MORE >>

News briefs for the week of Aug. 19, 2010<< MORE >>

The Regional School Unit 23 Board of Directors will review the district’s cost-sharing plan at the request of Dayton selectmen. Dayton Selectmen Ted Poirier, Theresa Greeley and Scott Littlefield sent an Aug. 2 letter to the board asking the plan be renegotiated because their town is “severely affected” by the current plan. The board voted to look at the plan in January. Superintendent of Schools Michael Lafortune said the cost-sharing plan was developed during creation of the school unit, which includes Saco, Dayton and Old Orchard Beach. The RSU is now in its second year and a review of the plan already was anticipated for the third year. << MORE >>

Obituaries for the week of Aug. 19, 2010<< MORE >>

Jodi Bissonnette has two words to describe the situation facing York County Food Rescue: dire straits. The Sanford-based program that provides food to 47 food pantries and soup kitchens across the county has little food in the warehouse and no money to buy more. “I don’t think I’ve ever been as worried about getting food in the past 13 years as I am now,” said Bissonnette, director of the program. “It’s always tough this time of year. Everyone tends to think about giving at the holidays, but this is when we need it the most.”<< MORE >>

The former Emery School building on Hill Street in Biddeford is one step closer to a new use after sitting empty for three years. The city council voted unanimously Aug. 3 to give Developers Collaborative a one-year option to buy the building for $360,000; the option is renewable for a second year. The council also voted to send a contract zone proposal to the planning board for review. A contract zone is needed to increase the number of allowed units in the building so the developer can create 24 apartments for seniors. << MORE >>

After years of work in the transportation industry, Capt. Jeffrey Monroe recently was named chairman of the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee. Monroe, 56, lives with his wife, Linda, in a home in Cape Elizabeth they bought 31 years ago from an old sea captain. Monroe sat down recently to talk about his work with the committee and his involvement with the Orthodox Anglican Church in Old Orchard Beach. << MORE >>