Shannon, a 1 1/2-year-old Rottweiller, was one of the lucky dogs to find a new family on Saturday. The animal was adopted from the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk by a Waterboro family, 10-year-old Caleb, 7-year-old Elizabeth, their father Chris and mother, Cari (not pictured). (DINA MENDROS/Journal Tribune)

SANFORD — They’re into movies, shopping at the mall, fast food and high school sports. Typical teenagers in just about any American town, right? Right, except these seven teens hail from far-flung locations, from China to Europe and Scandinavia to South America. They’ve been here since last autumn, when they began classes at Sanford High […]

Exchange students attending classes at Sanford High School, framed by a globe in the school’s library on Wednesday. Left to right: Juan Hernandez of Columbia; Victoria Lobo Antuna of Spain; Simon Lardner of Sweden; Shuang “Mokke” Chen of China; Leonie Rodewald of Germany; Sonia Swiatloch of Germany; and Tammy Wiese of Germany. (JEFF LAGASSE/Journal Tribune)

Juan Hernandez of Columbia, a foreign exchange student at Sanford High School, inside the school’s library on Wednesday. (JEFF LAGASSE/Journal Tribune)

BIDDEFORD — When they met five years ago on a Biddeford Fifty Plus Club Mystery Tour to a local restaurant, it had been several years since both Frank and Gaetane had lost their respective spouses. That trip changed their lives. Soon they began dating, and now Frank and Gaetane DeFrancesco are happily married. Even though […]

Fifty Plus Club Director Deb Lizotte, right foreground, joins a group in line dancing Thursday at the J.R. Martin Community Center in Biddeford during an open house for the Fifty Plus Club. (JEFF LAGASSE/Journal Tribune)

Lieutenant Steve Kerner backs a fire truck into the Saco Fire Station’s equipment bay on Monday, being careful so as not to damage the truck’s rearview mirrors while backing into a narrow space. Saco residents will soon have a chance to vote on whether to build a newer, more modern building to house the Fire […]

SACO — The current central fire station, located at Thornton Avenue, has outgrown the fire department’s needs, according to fire officials. On Feb. 9, voters will decide whether the city should build a new fire station. A proposed bond would cover $6 million for the project plus $4 million of interest, to be paid off […]

Rennie Cassimy sits next to attorney Heather Gonzales at York County Superior Court Tuesday morning. (LIZ GOTTHELF/Journal Tribune)

ALFRED — Rennie Cassimy has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in relation to the June 2008 death of Old Orchard Beach resident Winston George. Cassimy, 49, made his plea Tuesday at York County Superior Court, as part of a plea deal. As a result, an earlier charge of murder has been dropped. Cassimy […]