Welcome to the Sunrise Herald, this morning with Staff Reporter Dieter Bradbury, the place to go to get the news from overnight and beyond...

IN THE WEATHER

At 9 a.m., it was 64 degrees in downtown Portland. We'll have a beautiful day today, with plenty of sunshine and a light breeze that will give us high temperatures in the upper 70s near the coast. Inland, the readings will climb into the 80s. Saturday should be similar, but clouds will move in overnight and could lead to showers on Sunday.

From Bill in Rockland: Only 52 degrees in Rockland at 5:30 a.m. Clear skies and no wind make it a picture perfect if unexciting morning.
From Mark in Brunswick: A cool start to the day with 49 degrees in Brunswick and a few clouds scattered overhead.
From Karen in Steep Falls: It's a gorgeous morning! Temps sit at 47 degrees...brrrrr....The sun is out and bright and it looks like another beautiful day is on the way. Happy Friday!!!

ON THE ROAD:

• Holmes Road in Scarborough, between Payne Road and Beech Ridge Road is closed from now until June 24, with only local traffic approved for travel. The Scarborough Public Works Department is closing the road as it works to improve travel conditions there. You will have to seek alternative routes if this is part of your travel plans. Click this Downloadable pdf file for a map of recommended detours.

WANTED: TRAFFIC REPORTERS. NO HELICOPTER NEEDED.

The Sunrise Herald would like to publish first-hand reports from motorists who will be forced to take the scenic route when the southbound lanes of I-295 between Gardiner and Topsham close on Monday.

During the $28.5 million reconstruction project, scheduled to take about 10 weeks, the Department of Transportation will redirect traffic onto state Route 201 or the Maine Turnpike. Read today's complete story by clicking here.

If you’re caught up in the 18-mile detour, which is expected to add 15 minutes to a southbound trip using Route 201, let us know how it goes by contacting Sunrise Herald reporter Giselle Goodman. You can reach her by phone at 791-6382, or by email at: ggoodman@pressherald.com

Happy driving!

CELTICS DO IT AGAIN
A STUNNING RALLY gave the Boston Celtics a commanding lead in the NBA finals. After falling behind by 24 points, they roared back in a spectacular finish to win 97-91. Read our complete story today by clicking here.

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Sen. Olympia Snowe will be the keynote speaker today at the 88th annual state convention of Maine Veterans of Foreign Wars in Lewiston.

Snowe will address issues of concern to both active-duty and discharged military personnel, including health care, education and small business assistance.

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Maine, Connecticut and New Hampshire were among 16 state and local governments selected by the Environmental Protection Agency for grants to help return “brownfields” properties to productive use.

The three states will reap $1.7 million of the more than $6.3 million available nationwide for the cleanup loans. Brownfields are sites where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.

In Maine, the city of Bath will receive $400,000 for the Tarbox Hill landfill, and the city of Brewer $300,000 to cleanup two paper mill sites formerly owned by Eastern Fine Paper.

The program provides annual funding opportunities for state, local and tribal governments to make low interest loans and subgrants that fund cleanup activities at brownfields sites.

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PORTLAND — Firefighters remained at the city's recycling center on Riverside Street this morning, trying to extinguish a fire that was reported around 10 p.m. last night in a pile of demolition debris.
Officials said the fire had been contained overnight, but crews were likely to be at the scene all day.

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BIDDEFORD — A singer-songwriter from Florida will pedal into the city today for a benefit concert to help support the local Community Bicycling Center.

Rachel Van Slyke will perform her acoustic music at a 7:30 p.m. performance at North Mill Dam, part of a 110-day tour in which she will ride 3,200 miles.

Van Slyke is playing in 26 cities, and for each CD of her music sold in Biddeford, she is donating $1 to the biking center.

The center provides youth development programs for children from Biddeford and surrounding communities by recycling bikes, sponsoring rides and supporting community service projects.

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