DOWN EAST NOTES

Maine Public Broadcasting - L.L. Bean plans to shut down its outlet store in downtown Portland. L.L. Bean spokeswoman Carolyn Beem told the Portland Press Herald that the company wants to concentrate on its outlet store in Freeport

Morning Sentinal - For the first time in two decades, Donald Giroux Sr. will serve as a Town Council member on Jan. 4, when the council convenes for its first meeting of 2010. Giroux won a five-way race for the two open seats Tuesday, with 1,137 votes. And then there's Ed Finch. The same Ed Finch who two weeks ago announced he was no longer a candidate for personal reasons, though his decision came too late to remove his name from the ballot. Finch came in second, with 995 votes, winning him an open seat. Informed of the vote late Wednesday morning, Finch said he was stunned -- and also in a state of flux. "This flabbergasts me," said Finch, who made the announcement that he was no longer a candidate during a televised debate. "I'm going to keep all my options open," Finch said, "until January. "I'm not going to make my decision until I have to, which is my style anyway."