Brownstone Intermediate School, 314 Main St, will present Macbeth for Kids, Thursday, May 15 and Friday, may 16, at 7pm, both nights at the school. Lois Burdett has written a family friendly version of "Shakespeare Can Be Fun" series. Director Kimberly West has directed many productions for Portland schools, and over 50 5th and 6th graders are involved as cast and crew in this show. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students, and may be reserved by calling 342-5494. 05/13/2008

The sophomore class of Portland High School will hold a car wash at Fire House No. 2 on Main St, Portland, CT, on Sat May 10, during the Portland Town Wide Tag Sale. The cost is $5 per car. What a great way to wash all that pollen off your car - and it is cheaper than the regular car wash! 05/05/2008

There will be a Tri-Club Plant Sale on Sat May 17 from 8:30-11am on Main St, Portland, CT in the parking lot between the police station and the TD Banknorth building. The members of the Brownstone Garden Club, the Portland Garden Club and the Portland River Valley Garden Club will all provide potted perennials, shrubs and trees for sale. Club members will also be available with assistance and advice. 05/05/2008

Members and friends of the Brownstone Quorum are asked to collect their contributions for the Quorum Tag Sale on May 10. Call Jeanne Dilworth at 342-2260 to arrange either to drop off your items or  have them picked up. All proceeds from this sale will go to the development of the Quarry/Riverside Park. 05/05/2008

Colchester Parks & Recreation is now accepting registrations for the following Total Tennis programs. Youth: Saturdays, May 31-June 21, at the Colchester Rec Plex Tennis Courts: Pee Wee: $33, 9-10am, Beginner/Advanced Beginner, $42, 10:15-11:30am and Low Intermediate/Intermediate, , $42, 11:45-1pm. Adults: Tuesdays, may 27-June 17, 6-7:30pm, $58. For a complete description or to register online, visit www.colchesterct.govor call the Parks  Recreation office at 537-7297 04/29/2008

Portland Market Report - Comparison First Quarter 2007 to First Quarter 2008  Residential   1/1/2007 - 3/31/2007Closed Sales - 19Average Sale Price - $287,489Average Price/Sq.Ft. - $149.46Average Days on Market - 79  1/1/2008 - 3/31/2008Closed Sales - 16Average Sale Price - $ 278,038Average Price/Sq.Ft. - $158.39Average Days on Market - 53  Overall number of sales are down 15.8% and prices are down by 3.3%.  This isn't too bad.  There are only 55 homes on the market so the inventory has not gone up. 04/24/2008

The Saint Mary's Church of Pro-Life Ministry is collecting donations of cribs for it project "Away in A Manger.  St. Gerard's Center for Life in  Hartford has more than 12 expectant motehr's in need of  cribs.  St mary's asks that the cribs are in good condition and brought to Stor-U-Self, 127 Main St. Cribs may be dropped off any time during business hours. For more information, call Roselani Ferguson at Pineapples & Coconuts at 635-1777 during the day, or Mary Garry at 343-3746 in the evening. 04/22/2008

A drop-in library program called "Come Play With Me" will be held Wed mornings from 10:30am-noon through May 28 at the Portland Library, 20 Freestone Ave, Portland, CT. The children's storytelling room will be open for an informal, drop-in playgroup. The library will supply the room, the toys and the atmosphere. All are welcome. (A librarian will not be formally facilitating this program). 04/22/2008

The Portland United Methodist Church will serve Virginia's Pot Roast on Saturday, April 26 from 4:30-6:30 pm at the churhc, 381 Main St, Portland, CT. The menu will also include a vegetable soup, mashed potato, buttered carrots, assorted gelatin salds, assorted desserts, homemade rolls and beverages. The meal will be served buffet style. Reservations are not required. For more information call Linda at 342-5407 or Beth at 342-0109. 04/21/2008

The SMC Stage Company, from St. Mary Church, will present the musical Timeout April 25, 26, 27, and May 2, 3, and 4 at St. Mary Church Hall, 51 Freestone Ave, Portland, CT. written and directed by Rose Marie Morse, the musical is about life, sports and a drama queen with too much time on her hands.  Tickets are $15 and $12 for senior citizens.  visit www.icreatedmonsters.comfor more detailed information on times and date. For tickets, call Terry at 342-0066 or visit Bordonarao's Pharmacy, 283 Main St, Portland, CT. 04/17/2008

Portland Seniors will begin their 2008 season at Portland Golf Club on Tues April 22. Tee time s will begin at 7am and all seniors are invited to participate. Play format will vary from week to week and will include individual play, two man best ball, best eight holes, red, white and blue etc. All play will be regulated by the USGA handicap system creating opportunity for all to win prizes in the form of pro shop merchandise credit. For more information, call 342-0527 or 342-2833. 04/17/2008

The Mostly Baroque Players, featuring David and Peggy Hartman, will perform at the First Congregational Church of Portland, 554 Main Street on at  Sunday April 20th at 3:00 pm. The program will include compositions by Correlli, Handel, Bach, Quantz and LeClair played on period violin, harpsichord and flute. Following the concert, a reception will be held in Fellowship Hall.  Ticket prices are $10 for Adult, $5 for Youth 12 & under or $30 for a family. Call 342-1811 or 342-5477 for further information. 04/14/2008

The PortaldnWomen's 9 Holers is now accepting new members. The group meets Mon mornings at the Portland Golf Course and offers a Ghin handicapp card, weekly prizes, a variety of tournament formats each week, and social events throughout the year. For more information, call Shirley Egan at 342-5181.The 18-hole "Portland" course at the Portland Golf Course West facility in Portland, Connecticut features 4,012 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 60. The course rating is 60.5 and it has a slope rating of 100.  Designed by Al Zikorus, the Portland golf course opened in 1985. 04/09/2008

The Portland Veterans Commission is holding another drive to provide comfort items for the troops serving in Iraq. At this time there are 2 Portland residents serving. The drive will last through April 30. Collection boxes will be located at Portland Country Market, Quonset Surplus, Tri-Town Foods & the barbershop on Route 66. A list of suitable items will be attached to each box. 04/09/2008

Portland Fire Department Engine Co. 1 holds pancake breakfasts the 1st Sun of each month, from now through May, from 7-11am, at 7 Middlesex Ave, Portland, behind the Post Office. There will be all you can eat pancakes, sausage and drinks. Fees are $3 for children and $5 for adults.Try this fantastic recipe on your own if you can't make it!Good Old Fashioned Pancakes   Submitted by: dakota kelly Rated: 5 out of 5 by 1445 members Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cook Time: 15 Minutes Ready In: 20 Minutes Yields: 8 servings "This is a great recipe that I found in my Grandma's recipe book. Judging from the weathered look of this recipe card, this was a family favorite." INGREDIENTS: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon white sugar 1 1/4 cups milk 1 egg... 04/09/2008

A Daisy Girl Scout Troop has formed for Portland girls in kindergarten. Anyone interested in their daughter being part of this troop can email Lisa Deschnow at ldeschnow@gsoct.orgor call her at 347-5768. Meetings are held at Trinity Church, 345 Main St, Portland, CT, on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, from 6-7pm. 04/01/2008

The Portland Junior Women will hold a Mother-Daughter Tea, Sunday, April 27 from 1-3pm, at the Portland Senior Center, 7 Waverly Ave, Portland, CT. This year the Portland Junior Women will offer a special raffle of an American Girl Doll, donated by the Friends of The Portland Library. Proceeds fro this raffle will benefit library programs, and a portion of the proceeds benefit a local domestic violence shelter. Space is limited and reservations are required. Those interested in attending should email pjwinfo@yahoo.comfor reservations. Include your name, number of adults and children attending, and telephone number in the email. Email confirmations will be sent within 72 hours. 04/01/2008

The Portland Junior Women's Club, in partnership with Portland Library, will host an American Girl tea party at the Library, 20 Freestone Ave, Portland, CT, on Saturday March 29.  Girls ages 7 and up are invited to bring their American Girl Doll or any favorite doll to tea.  There will be sittings at 1:15pm and 2:30pm.  The girls will make Victorian fans, have tea and light refreshments, play parlor games, and visit with "The Victorian Lady" and "Kandie Carle". This event is free and open to the public. Reserve your place by calling Aline at 342-4563. 03/31/2008

The Portland Republican Town Committee will sponsor an opening day of fishing pancake breakfast on Saturday April 19. The breakfast will be held at the American Legion on Freestone Ave, Portland, CT, from 5-11am. Tickets are $5 per person and children under 6 are free. Pancakes, sausage, coffee and juice will be served. There will also be door prizes. Top purchase tickets or for more information, call Carl Chudzik at 342-2426. 03/31/2008

TIMEOUT will be performed by the St. Mary's Church Players of Portland. Show dates  are April 25 and 26 at 7pm, April 27 at 2pm, May 2 at 7pm, May 3 at 1pm and may 4 at 2pm. All performances will be at the St. Mary's Church Hall, Portland, CT. Tickets are available by calling 342-3583, 342-0066 or by visiting Bordonaro's Pharmacy on Main St. 03/25/2008