Posted on: March 2, 2021
The Portland Police Department is investigating a fatal overdose that may be connected to counterfeit prescription pain pills that have been found to contain fentanyl. On February 28, 2021, officers responded to a call at Maine Medical Center where medica...
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Public Health
Posted on: February 22, 2021
The Portland Police Department is pleased to announce that it has recently made three new hires for the following positions: Alternative Response Liaison, Substance Use Disorder Liaison, and Media and Community Relations Liaison. The Alternative...
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Public Health
Posted on: February 19, 2021
The City of Portland’s Health & Human Services Department is seeking a Resettlement Coordinator to assist families who are experiencing homelessness at the City’s Family Shelter, many of whom have recently arrived in Maine and are seeking asylum. This...
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Public Health
Posted on: January 28, 2021
The City of Portland is updating the public today on its efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, manage outbreaks, and provide vaccination opportunities. The City’s public health campaign, StaytheCourse.me, continues to offer educational information and m...
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Public Health
Posted on: January 22, 2021
The City of Portland’s commitment to providing essential public health services through its Needle Exchange Program remains strong as evidenced by the number of clients it serves and the services it offers seven days a week, in two locations with more tha...
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Public Health
Posted on: November 23, 2020
Portland’s Public Health Division wishes all a Happy Thanksgiving and would like to provide you with some tips for celebrating safely. With this holiday season upon us, please remember:
- Limit the number of guests you’re gathering with. It is best to includ...
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Public Health
Posted on: November 16, 2020
November 19, 2020 is the 45th annual Great American Smokeout. Since 1976, the American Cancer Society has hosted the Great American Smokeout, a public awareness event to encourage people to quit smoking, even if it is just for one day on the day of the Gr...
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Public Health
Posted on: October 22, 2020
Saturday, October 24, 2020 between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM is the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Law enforcement agencies throughout the state will be collecting unused or unneeded prescription medications so that they can be properly disposed.
The...
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Public Health
Posted on: October 13, 2020
Round three of the City of Portland’s COVID-19 grant and loan programs are being launched today. Eligibility has been relaxed for businesses that received more than $10,000 in COVID-19 Federal or State Funding and need more assistance. Previously this mad...
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Public Health
Posted on: October 9, 2020
While the City of Portland does not control or sanction Halloween activities or Trick-or-Treating, it does want to make sure that residents are aware of this year’s safety guidelines should families choose to participate in Halloween 2020. The City is enc...
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Additional Info...
Public Health
Posted on: September 22, 2020
The City of Portland launched a new campaign this week to remind people to ‘Stay the Course’ to prevent further COVID-19 spread. Residents, businesses, and visitors to Portland are encouraged to visit staythecourse.me for information r...
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Public Health
Posted on: September 18, 2020
The City of Portland’s Public Health Division, in collaboration with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, Greater Portland Health, and MaineHealth Care at Home, announces the availability o...
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Public Health
Posted on: August 31, 2020
Portland Public Health Division’s Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction Services Program recognizes International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31). International Overdose Awareness Day has been a key remembrance event for those who have ...
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Additional Info...
Public Health
Posted on: August 24, 2020
In recognition of Recovery Month, the City of Portland and Spurwink are partnering to offer a FREE Naloxone (Narcan) Virtual Training on Wednesday, September 2 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm.
Register: spurwink.org/celebrate-recovery
FMI contact Zoe Broko...
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Public Health
Posted on: July 13, 2020
There have been seven fatal and 79 non-fatal overdoses since May 1, 2020, with one fatal and nine non-fatal overdoses just in the past week alone.
“There have historically been upticks in overdoses here in the city at this time of the y...
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Public Health
Posted on: July 7, 2020
The City of Portland is pleased to announce it has hired Bob Fowler as the city’s new Public Health Director after an extensive search and interview process. For the last six years, Fowler served as the Executive Director at Milestone Recovery. ...
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Public Health Division
Public Health
Posted on: July 6, 2020
In response to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the City of Portland will make available up to three months of rent, and up to $250 in utility assistance to alleviate the housing burden for low income households that have lo...
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Public Health
Posted on: June 27, 2020
The City of Portland is reminding businesses that they must follow the State’s COVID-19 reopening guidelines for operation. Following multiple reports of violations from the public, the City will have two code enforcement officers plus the polic...
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Public Health
Posted on: May 29, 2020
The City of Portland is updating the public on its phased reopening plan so citizens can plan how to take care of various municipal transactions. City employees will be returning to City Hall and City buildings on Monday, June 1. However, the majority of ...
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Public Health
Posted on: May 18, 2020
The City of Portland launched three emergency business assistance programs after receiving City Council approval of the programs at its May 4, 2020 meeting and final funding for them at its May 18, 2020 meeting.
The programs include the Business Assistance...
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Public Health
Posted on: May 18, 2020
Portland Mayor Kate Snyder and City Manager Jon Jennings issued a letter to citizens and businesses today recapping the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and outlining its reopening plans. You can read it at the link below.
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Additional Info...
Public Health
Posted on: May 12, 2020
In conjunction with Governor Mills’ Restarting Maine’s Economy plan, which outlines the gradual stages of reopening, the City of Portland has put together a proposed plan that includes temporary street closures and permitting changes t...
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Public Health
Posted on: May 1, 2020
With National Drug Take Back Day Postponed, the City of Portland Public Health Division is providing educational materials and virtual Narcan (naloxone) trainings throughout the month of May.
Beginning next week, the Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduc...
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Public Health
Posted on: April 28, 2020
The Portland City Council voted to extend the Stay at Home Emergency Order until May 18, 2020 at its April 27th meeting. The emergency order also includes a number of amendments including:
- A temporary program to pay $1,000 to the owner of a non-ow...
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Additional Info...
Public Health
Posted on: April 17, 2020
The City of Portland is seeking to clarify its rules for non-essential businesses related to the City’s emergency Stay at Home order, and as a result the Portland City Council will hold an emergency remote workshop on Monday, April 20 at 5:30 PM...
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Public Health
Posted on: April 16, 2020
The City of Portland’s Office of Elder Affairs has created a temporary volunteer program to provide grocery shopping and food delivery to elderly Portland residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is intended to help people aged 65 or ...
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Public Health
Posted on: April 6, 2020
The City of Portland is closing all parking lots associated with the Back Cove Trail due to the high usage of the trail and overcrowding concerns in light of the State of Maine and the City’s Stay at Home emergency orders requiring that individu...
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Public Health
Posted on: April 3, 2020
Building off of the City Council’s March 30th approval of an Emergency Order, Mayor Kate Snyder has compiled a comprehensive list of resources available to tenants and landlords in light of COVID-19. The Emergency Order requests landlords in Por...
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Public Health
Posted on: April 1, 2020
The City of Portland has opened an additional shelter for clients needing quarantine space in light of positive COVID-19 cases. The quarantine space is located at the James A. Banks, Sr. Exposition Building. The City is working with the Maine Department o...
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Public Health
Posted on: March 30, 2020
The Portland City Council voted tonight to extend the State of Emergency and Stay at Home order until April 27. The vote extends the Emergency Order originally issued by the City Manager on March 24 and replaces it with this Emergency Order.
The ...
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Public Health
Posted on: March 27, 2020
The India Street Public Health Center will resume its clinical services and Needle Exchange Program on Monday, March 30. This comes after a two week closure due to widespread staff exposure to COVID-19. The City had no other choice but to cease operations...
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Public Health
Posted on: March 25, 2020
The City of Portland is issuing the following updates related to the COVID-19 response and resources.
City Hall & City Buildings Closed to External Visitors Until April 13
City Hall and all City buildings will now remain closed to external visitors unti...
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Additional Info...
Public Health
Posted on: March 24, 2020
City Announces Stay at Home Emergency Order Effective Wednesday, March 25 at 5:00 PM
Restricts all non-essential personal and business services
Mayor Kate Snyder and Portland City Manager Jon Jennings announced today at a 3:00 PM press conference that the C...
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Public Health
Posted on: March 23, 2020
Portland Mayor Kate Snyder issued the following guidance to help keep people housed during the COVID-19 pandemic given the need for safe housing during this public health and economic crisis. The courts are currently closed at this time and no evictions a...
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COVID-19 Resources & Information
Public Health
Posted on: March 20, 2020
The City of Portland has been working on the front lines in direct contact with its most vulnerable community members for more than 30 years with one of the most dedicated and professional staffs. Each and every decision the City makes is with their best ...
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Additional Info...
Public Health
Posted on: March 19, 2020
Last Friday, March 13, Portland’s City Manager directed the Parking Division to no longer issue parking tickets for time zones and expired meters for the foreseeable future. Enforcement will continue for illegal parking, which includes blocking ...
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Public Health
Posted on: March 16, 2020
Portland City Manager Jon Jennings announced today he is instituting a mandated curfew for establishments where groups gather from 6:00 AM to 2:00 AM on Tuesday, March 17-18 and then daily from 8:00 PM until 2:00 AM on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sat...
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Public Health
Posted on: March 13, 2020
As things continue to rapidly evolve with the coronavirus (COVID-19), Mayor Snyder, City Council members, and City Manager Jon Jennings held a press conference on Friday to provide the public and media with the latest information related to the number of ...
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Public Health
Posted on: March 13, 2020
The City of Portland has decided to cancel all events scheduled for the next 30 days at Merrill Auditorium, Portland Expo and Ocean Gateway in order to help practice social distancing in order to reduce the number of large gatherings and help slow the spr...
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Public Health
Posted on: March 12, 2020
Out of an abundance of caution and for preventative reasons only, the Portland City Council is cancelling its March 16 meeting and March 23 workshop. Both will be rescheduled at dates to be determined.
Additionally, the City is suspending all co...
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Public Health
Posted on: March 3, 2020
The City of Portland is actively engaged and monitoring guidance from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Maine CDC regarding Coronavirus COVID-19 preparations and precautions. The City’s emergency management team is...
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Public Health
Posted on: September 19, 2019
As reports of vaping-related illnesses increase, Maine has enacted a law banning vaping on school grounds. On September 19, LD 152 took effect. The statute, “An Act to Prohibit the Possession and Use of Electronic Smoking Devices on School Grou...
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Public Health