Welcome to the Sunrise Herald with Giselle Goodman, the place to go to get the news from overnight and onward...
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IN THE WEATHER:

At 9 a.m., it was 12 degrees and snowing in downtown Portland.

A band of snow is falling currently in Portland but it is not expected to last. A general clearing should be on the way for this afternoon. We aren't supposed to add any additional accumulation to the 6-or-so inches that fell yesterday. Tomorrow, maybe another inch or two.

By Thursday, glass-shattering kind of cold moves in as we are on our way to an arctic freeze.

Today, though, once the sun peaks out, we might see temperatures lurch into the upper 20s! Downright balmy!

THE SUNRISE HERALD WEATHER WATCHERS REPORT:

Bill in Rockland says: Zero, that is no degrees, here at 5:35 this morning, but luckily there is no wind at the moment. Cloudy skies overhead or it would be really cold. The January thaw can't come soon enough for me.

Shawn from Yarmouth says: It is a COLD 10 degrees here in Yarmouth this morning. There appears to be no wind and the sky is clear. Remember to wear something warm out there, including a hat and hand covering. Stay warm and enjoy your day.

James from Cape Elizabeth says: At 6:30, it is currently 15 degrees, calm and with a very light snow drifting down to add to the 8+" we received yesterday. It is truly a Winter Wonderland to start the work week with. Enjoy!

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ON THE ROAD:

• CAN'T FIND YOUR CAR? Perhaps you didn't realize there was a parking ban in the city of Portland last night until 6 a.m. today. If you think your car was towed, you can visit this link to find out what happens next. Or call the impound lot at 774-3025.

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ON THE OCEAN:

A day without a small craft advisory. How about that!!?? The winds on Casco Bay are rather tame today, blowing from the northwest 5 to 15 knots, seas 1 to 3 feet. Visibility at 3 to 5 nautical miles once the snow showers move through this morning.

High tide in Portland: 11:31 a.m. Low tide: 5:14 a.m. and 5:56 p.m.
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IN THE NEWS:

PORTLAND -- Today begins a new route with Portland's METRO program - service to Mercy at the Fore.

Starting today, and every weekday hence forth, the Route 1 METRO bus route will extend to provide service to the new Mercy Hospital campus on the Fore River. The last scheduled weekday stop is at 5:53 p.m. There are no evening or holiday hours planned for this stop.

If you take METRO Route #1, you should know this will change its time schedule. The new times and schedules can be viewed at the METRO bus website by clicking here or by calling 774-0451.

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LIVERMORE (AP) -- Ethel "Billie" Gammon, founder of the Washburn-Norlands Living History Center in Livermore, has died at age 92.

Gammon, who died Sunday at her home in Livermore, envisioned Norlands as a place where visitors could experience life as it was in rural Maine during the 18th and 19th centuries.

The museum is located at the home of the Washburn family, a political and industrial dynasty whose members included governors, congressmen, a U.S. senator and other luminaries.

Erik Jorgensen, executive director of Maine Humanities Council, says Gammon had a great vision for how the story of Maine should be told.

A funeral service is planned for Thursday at North Livermore Baptist Church.

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PORTLAND (AP) -- Lobster prices are rising after months in the tank, but with poor weather conditions and much of their fishing gear pulled from the water, not many fishermen are reaping the rewards.

The price increase is simply a result of supply and demand, said Matt McAleney at New Meadows Lobster, a lobster dealer in Portland.

"The supply is low and demand is better than it should be at this time of year," McAleney said. "It's capitalism at its finest."

The rise in lobster prices is a welcome change from the rock-bottom prices that the industry has experienced in recent months. Prices plunged when the global economy took a dive last fall, resulting in a glut of lobsters on the market and bargains for lobster lovers.

Lobstermen two weeks ago were getting $2.25 to $2.80 a pound for their catch, said Patrice McCarron, executive director of the Maine Lobstermen's Association. The "boat price" nudged up last week, and fishermen this week are receiving $4 to $5.40 a pound, she said.

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PORTLAND -- The city wants residents to remember that after a winter storm like the one we had yesterday, they have some jobs to do:
      SHOVEL THE SIDEWALK: Residents are responsible for removing snow from the sidewalk in front of their property within 24 hours of the city ending its plowing operations. Seniors who need help clearing the snow from their sidewalks can contact the Senior's Triad Shoveling
Project at 774-7616.
      TWO FIVE GALLON BUCKETS OF SAND and salt mix are available to Portland residents for use at their homes. You can get the mix for free at the Deering Oaks parking lot adjacent to State Street. BYOB, though. (That's...bring your own bucket.)
      THE SNOW IS YOURS TO KEEP Any snow cleared away from driveways and walkways should be put on your own land and not in public streets, says the city. As tempting as it is to chuck it in the road, your snow should stay on your yard.

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COMING UP:

STATEWIDE It is Maine Libraries Week! Were you aware? Gov. John Baldacci is, and at 2:30 p.m. today at the state house, he will present a proclamation naming Jan. 11 - 17 as such. Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree and President of the Senate Elizabeth Mitchell are expected to attend.

Copyright 2008 Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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