Portland High School (PHS) Girls Soccer will have an Alumni Night, Sat Aug 16 at 7pm at the PHS varsity field, 95 High St, Portland, CT. The game will be a night exhibition game (played under the lights) between the 2008 varsity team and PHS alumni. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children/students. You can take $1 off admission if you wear a Portland soccer jersey or if you are a PHS alumnus. 08/12/2008

A new 10 week session of Tai Chi will begin at the Portland Senior center, 7 Waverly Ave, Portland, CT, on Aug 15. Ta Chi is a program of slow moving exercise that helps to promote good balance and stress management and relieve stiffness in joints. It promotes good health and is recommended by the American Arthritis Foundation.  The class is taught by Master Joy and is open to both beginner and continuing students over the age of 50. Preregistration is required an the cost of the 10 week session is $38. Cl;asses begin at 1:30pm. For more information or to register, call the senior center at 342-6760. 08/12/2008

Dr. John Mormile, Chiropractic and Acupuncture, 234 Main St, Portland, CT, will have a Kids Appreciation Day, Wed Aug 13 from 9am-1pm and 3-6pm. The event is in celebration of the practice's seven years at it's Portland Location. Children can come for a spinal examination at no cost. There will also be free ice cream. For more information, call 342-7277. 08/04/2008

The Portland Senior Center Art Van is traveling to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston August 21. The highlight of the trip is the "Winslow Homer: American Scenes" exhibit, which offers an extraordinary glimpse of the artist's working methods in a variety of media. Visit mfa.org for more information on current exhibits/ Art Van will leave the senior center, 7 Waverly Ave, Portland, CT, at 7:30am Thurs Aug 21 and return about 5pm. Cost is $30, which includes transportation and museum admission. Lunch is on your own in one of the museum's three rrestaurants. Payment is due at the time of registration. Register by Monday Aug 18 by calling 342-6760. Seats are limited. 07/29/2008

Market Report for Portland June 2008 and Year to Date comparison to 2007    June 2008   Act - 60New in June - 13 Deposits - 11Closed - 10 Avg Sale Price - $220,000SP/SqFt - $169.31Avg. Dom 45   June 2007   Closed - 7Avg.Sale Price - $240,786Sp/SqFt - $148.90Avg. DOM - 44 Comparing last June to this June, prices are down 8.7%, but number of closed sales were up about 42% and days on the market was about the same.   Jan.1, 2008 - June 30, 2008  Closed - 36Median Sale Price - $252,000SP/Sq.Ft - $158.22DOM - 47   Jan.1, 2007 - June 30, 2007 Closed - 48Median Sale Price - $253,250SP/SqFt - $153.47DOM - 51 Comparing last year to this year number of  sales were down 25%, but prices only came down ½ a percent, which is really good and days on the market were less this year than last.  All in al... 07/21/2008

The Town of Portland is continuing a $12 per fiscal year Transfer Station Permit Fee. The sticker is good through June 30, 2009. Permit stickers will be available at the Public Works office and at the Transfer Station located at 39 Sand Hill d, Portland, CT. The opening hours of the transfer station are Tues thru Sat 7:30am-3:30pm. 07/15/2008

On Thursday July 17 at the Portland Senior Center ArtVan van will go to the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven to see Van Gogh's works The Cypress and Starry Night, visiting from New York Museums. The senior center has timed admission tickets to view the works as a group. The van will leave the senior center at 10:30am and drop the group at the gallery for the visit. Lunch is on your own in New haven, where there are many restaurants to choose from. The van will be back in Portland by 2:30pm. Cost is $10 and is due with registration. The registration deadline is Monday, July 14, at the senior center. Seats are limited. 07/07/2008

The Saint Mary's Church Ladies Guild will hold its annual tag sale, Saturday, June 28, from 9am-2:30pm, in the church hall, 45 Freestone Ave, Portland, CT. Glassware, household goods, collectables, jewelry, baskets and more will be available. 06/23/2008

  Do you remember being a child and all the fun you had at summer camp.  Looking forward to seeing the friends you made the previous summer, and meeting up with them again, and thoughts of making new ones.   Learning to swim for the first time? Taking archery lessons,  but most importantly, getting away from your parents and just being a kid for a while. Are high priority on a child's mind.  YMCA Camp Ingersoll in Portland Connecticut has this and more.  For the past 3 summers my sons have gone, and can't wait to go back again this summer.  What is nice for the parents is that they are active all day, and by the time they come home, they eat dinner and fall asleep (with no arguing by 8pm). If you are interested you can contact either Patrick Connelly                              Helen P... 06/17/2008

The next Riverfront Roots and Shoots project will take place on Main Street Friday, June 20, at 3:30pm. The project will involve planting, painting and mulching. Riverfront Roots and Shoots was a warded a Portland Town Community Youth Services mini-grant to purchase plant materials and looks forward to spending it in an eco-friendly way. The group invites young folks of any age to join them and participate in digging in the dirt to lose the lawn. Those interested can call Emily Rintoul at 342-4764. 06/16/2008

The Portland Fireworks show is coming Sat July 19 at the Exchange Club Fairgrounds. The Fireworks Committee is planning to have two or three bands playing before the fireworks. A variety of food will also be avaiable from local vendors.  The Fireworks Committee thanks each person and business who has sent in their donation. Some have donated in memory of a loved one or as a tribute to the troops.  If you haven't already contributed, it's not too late! Send your checks, payable to "Porltand Fireworks" to Portland Fireworks, C/O  Portland Police, 265 Main St, Portland, CT 06480. 06/11/2008

The American legion has issued some advice regarding flags. Saturday, June 14 is Flag Day, and everyone should check the condition of the flag they are flying, the legion says, If it is old, torn, faded or otherwise unserviceable, it should be replaced. If you do choose to replace your flag, the legion asks that you treat the old flag with respect. Do not throw it in the dump. Instead, the legion says, find an American Legion member or place it in the box beside the Legion Hall on Freestone Ave, Portland, CT, and the legion will burn it in a flag retirement ceremony. 06/11/2008

The Portland Junior Women's Club will hold a night of Bunco Tuesday, June 10, at 7:30pm, at the Portland Senior Center, 7 Waverly Ave, Portland, CT. Come and find out about the group and then take in a night of Bunco. Light refreshments will be served. Contact Trish Burdett at 342-1446 to reserve a spot. 06/11/2008

On Saturday June 7 at 10am at the Portland Senior Center, 7 Waverly Ave, Portland, CT, the Portland Clean Energy Task Force will offer a presentation on solar photovoltaic, solar hot water, and small scale wind power. Attendees can learn about state rebates and federal tax credits for their home or business. Three approved and accredited solar installers will be on hand for a show and tell. Q & A event is open to the public at no charge. 06/04/2008

Dave Kuzminski and the students from the Connecticut Valley School of Music will perform at 7:30pm, Friday June 13 at Hemlock Grange Hall, 17 Sage Hollow Rd, Portland, CT. All are welcome to attend. 06/04/2008

There will be a car wash at St Mary's Church Sat June 14 from 9am-2pm, 51 Freestone Ave, Portland, CT. Tickets will cost $6 or two for $10 and will be sold after Masses this weekend June 7 & 8.  All proceeds from this car wash will go towards an Eagle Scout  project which will involve renovating St Mary's Parish hall this summer.  This renovation will involve painting the hall, replacing the carpet, installing a new bulliten board and possibly the purchase of a new trophy case. Donations are also accepted and can be given to teh scouts before or after Masses or can be mailed to Scott Thompson, 59 Old Carriage Rd, Portland, CT 06480. 06/04/2008

Feng Shui Consultant Ned Farrell will be at Portland Library, 20 Freestone Ave, Portland, CT, on Thursday, June 5, at 7pm. The concept of Feng Shui is through thoughtful arrangement of your living space, you will increase harmony in your home and improve your health. Farrell will discuss the core Feng Shui concept of the bagua. Bring a hand drawn floor plan of your home. Farrell is a professional Feng Shui adviser as well as Director of the Connecticut Chapter of The International Feng Shui Guild. This program is free and no registration is required. For more information, call the library at 342-6770. 05/27/2008

A bake sale to raise money for the Portland Fireworks will be held this Sat & Sun, may 24 & 25 in front of teh  Tri-Town Grocery Store, 315 Marlborough St, Rt 66, Portland, CT. The Fireworks Committee wishes to thank each person and business who has sent in their donation. If you haven't already contributed, it's not too late. You can send checks, made payable to "Portland Fireworks", to Portland Fireworks, c/o Portland Police, 265 Main St, Portland, CT 06480. 05/27/2008

There will be another shredding day in Portland on Sat June 7 from 10am-4pm in the Tri-Town parking lot, 316 Marlborough Rd, Portland. Attendees can safeguard their personal information and at the same time know that the shredded paper will be recycled into items such as paper towels, toilet tissue and ceiling tiles. The cost is $5 per box/bag. There will also be a collection of non-perishable food items for the Portland Food Bank. For more information, call Sandra Downes at 342-0255 or Cindy Varricchio at 342-0184. 05/27/2008

Ormont Post of the American legion will hold a Memorial Day Breakfast at the Legion hall on Freestone Ave in Portland, CT, on Sat May 24 from 7-11am. The menu will feature Sgt. Kathy Burke's famous SOS (to the more refined, chipped beef on toast), pancakes, bacon, sausage, coffee or Tea. The all-you-can-eat meal costs $5. Information about local, state and federal verteans' benefits will be available. All are welcome. 05/21/2008