KENNEBUNK — It was late last week when a group of children from the Shooting Star Preschool in Kennebunk learned how to identify an abacus. They were in the perfect setting to learn about the artifact, visiting the Brick Store Museum, just across the street from their school, to take in the museum’s latest exhibit, […]

Jackie Campbell of the Brick Store Museum in Kennebunk, right, hands props to a group of children from the Shooting Star Preschool last week during an interactive story time in the museum’s latest exhibit, “Learning is an Ornament,” a look at the history and evolution of schools in the Kennebunks.

BIDDEFORD — The project to open a harness racing, slot machine, hotel and entertainment complex in Biddeford achieved a key goal Friday. Maine Secretary of State Charles Summers announced that enough valid signatures were submitted to his office to bring a bill before the Maine Legislature, seeking to allow two more racinos in the state. […]

Donny, who declined to give a last name, practices playing guitar at River Tree Arts in Kennebunk on Wednesday. Donny is taking instruction from the Maine Academy of Modern Music, a non-profit that seeks to provide music education through classic and contemporary rock. (JEFF LAGASSE/Journal Tribune)

KENNEBUNK — On Wednesday, Donny sat hunched over his shock-blue Stratocaster-style guitar, slowly picking out notes with his right hand while his left curled around the neck in a tentative F chord. Guitar instructor Kelly Bryand, who teaches for the non-profit Maine Academy of Modern Music, tapped his foot in rhythm, encouraging Donny to begin […]

SANFORD — A majority of the Town Council Tuesday told Town Manager Mark Green they would like an operating budget for 2011-12 that reflects no increase in the tax rate. To do that, Green said Wednesday, he’ll need to pare prospective spending by just over $1.4 million. That is in addition to about $740,000 Green […]

BIDDEFORD — In a 6-3 vote Tuesday, the Biddeford City Council approved a resolution asking the Maine Legislature to amend state gambling laws to allow the proposed Biddeford Downs racino to move forward. Councilors Patricia Boston, Jim Emerson and Clement Fleurent opposed the resolution, with Boston offering an alternate resolution to send the changes to […]

ALFRED — Lawyers for Jason Twardus will be allowed to review medical records of his former fiancée’s landlord, a judge ruled Monday, but the records are to remain confidential and if they want copies, they’ll have to ask a judge. Twardus was convicted in October of killing his former fiancée, Kelly Gorham, in Maine in […]

Jason Twardus is pictured at York County Superior Court in Alfred Oct. 1, 2010 when he was convicted of the murder of his former fiancée, Kelly Gorham. (TAMMY WELLS/Journal Tribune File Photo)

SACO — It was Jack Colpitts’ senior year at Thornton Academy, 1953. He was a  sports enthusiast who played baseball, basketball and football ”“ and it was football season. In this part of York County, football season means one thing: That fierce rivalry between the high school teams in the two cities on the Saco […]