Allen Hill weighs a petanque ball in his hand while gauging his next shot recently during a friendly game with friends in downtown Old Orchard Beach’s Memorial Park. – JEFF LAGASSE/ Journal Tribune

ALFRED — Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in preparation for the arson trial of a Springvale man who is accused of starting a fire that sent 14 people fleeing into the street with just the clothes on their back in a Maine winter. Raymond Fortier, 24, is accused of setting the fire that […]

OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Petanque is bringing laughs, team spirit and friendly competition to the beach with every throw of the boule. Petanque is an outdoor lawn game of French origin that is being played in Old Orchard Beach, thanks to local player Allen Hill who is organizing twice weekly games in Memorial Park. The […]

SACO — A proposed power line project has been thwarted by the city ordinance. Central Maine Power Company is proposing the construction of a 345 kV transmission line, which would run from the Scarborough town line south to the Saco River, passing through the Louden Road substation. The proposed project would have high-voltage power lines […]

ALFRED — Four new deputies have been added to the  York County Sheriff’s Office, swelling the ranks after a county government layoff last year left the rural patrol division stretched to provide coverage to the 14 towns it patrols. As well, York County Commissioners Wednesday agreed, some rather reluctantly, to approve hiring five new corrections […]

ARUNDEL — The 19 Arundel students who have expressed an interest in attending Middle School of the Kennebunks this fall will be allowed to do so, but the school district must pay Thornton Academy Middle School their tuition just the same. The legally binding decision, released Tuesday, is the result of last week’s arbitration proceedings […]

BIDDEFORD — Last week, the Biddeford Animal Hospital presented a check for $10,000 to establish the Biddeford Dog Park, at Rotary Park, about one mile from the city center. With this generous donation, nearly two years of planning to create the dog park is about to bear fruit. The money, along with help that is […]

Bob McKenney holds his dog, Heidi, on a leash Monday, July 26 at the future site of the dog park in Rotary Park in Biddeford. McKenney’s son, Joe, has been at the forefront of the dog park effort. Both were on hand last week for the presentation of a $10,000 check from the Biddeford Animal […]

BIDDEFORD — Pony rides, dunk tanks, bounce houses and break dancing were among the fun activities that took place at the Third Annual Bacon Street Festival on Sunday. The festival grew out of a desire by neighbors and residents of the Bacon Street area to celebrate turning their neighborhood around, said Community Development Director Linda […]

Children enjoyed the free pony rides given by Mona Jerome, director of the Ever After Mustang Rescue in Biddeford, on one of the rescue’s once-wild ponies. Jerome has participated in the Bacon Street festival since it began. (DINA MENDROS/Journal Tribune)