1. Several hundred people attended a solidarity vigil for Israel in Portland Wednesday night. At the same time as the event supporting Israel, a ‘Free Palestine’ rally in Monument Square drew about 60 demonstrators protesting the Israeli government’s military strikes on Gaza. (PH)
2. 18 year-old Yarmouth graduate, Leela Marie Hidier, is a climate social justice advocate and author of an award-winning debut novel, ‘Changes in the Weather.’ She was among 15 young women honored at the White House yesterday. Leela said the visit to the White House inspired her to continue on her path. She plans to start at Bates College in 2024 to study environmental studies, creative writing and education. (PH)
3. Joshua Chard, who teaches second and third graders at Portland’s East End Community School, was announced as Maine’s Teacher of the Year during a lively school assembly Wednesday morning. With 31 years in the classroom, he said, “I love that I have a room full of students that I get to lift up and celebrate. My life is full of supporting kids.” (PH)
4. A new development company has created another set of plans for Portland’s Time & Temperature building that include a hotel, restaurant, retail space, residential units, and observation deck. Green Mars Real Estate hopes that they get approval from the city’s planning board and historic preservation committee by early 2024, break ground by the end of 2024 (in time for the building’s 100th anniversary) and have the whole tower running by 2026. (PH)
5. USM will celebrate the official groundbreaking of the $63 million Crewe Center for the Arts today. The ceremony will be overseen by award-winning actor and alumnus Tony Shalhoub. Shalhoub, who is best known for starring in the tv show “Monk,” was in Maine last winter to announce his $500,000 donation to the arts center. (WGME)
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