SACO — When Thornton Academy sophomore Alyssa McCourt went to see the premier of the movie “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” last week, she didn’t just see Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner on the big screen. She saw herself. McCourt, 16, landed the role of Clarissa, the childhood friend of main character Jenny. The Thornton Academy […]

Alyssa McCourt, a sophomore at Thornton Academy, stands with actor Matthew McConaughey during the filming of the movie, “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past,” recently. McCourt played a principle role in the film. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

CONCORD, N.H. — The legalization of gay marriage in New Hampshire hinges on the next move of Gov. John Lynch, who remains uncommitted but has said he believes the word “marriage” should be reserved for the union of a man and a woman. “I’m going to talk to legislators and I’m going to talk to […]

Gov. John Baldacci signs a gay rights marriage bill in his office at the State House in Augusta on Wednesday. (AP WIREPHOTO)

About 125 people gathered at Kennebunk High School Tuesday for the first ever budget vote for the Regional School Unit 21 ”“ comprised of Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. School board chairwoman Maureen King said the rain may have caused the low voter turnout. (ROBYN BURNHAM/Journal Tribune)

KENNEBUNK — About 125 people gathered Tuesday at Kennebunk High School to pass 18 school budget articles, as presented in the first of a two-part vote. Regional School Unit 21 Board Chairwoman Maureen King said she expected more people, but was pleased with the turnout for the new district’s first-ever school budget vote. Now that […]

Representatives of the city of Biddeford during the Maine Energy Recovery Company Task Force meeting Monday at the Saco Transportation Center include, from left, City Manager John Bubier, Environmental officer Brian Phinney and Mayor Joanne Twomey. At right, State Sen. Barry Hobbins (D-Saco), also a member of the Governor’s task force, looks on. (DREW MCMULLIN/Journal […]

BIDDEFORD — Held in the conference room of Saco’s new wind-powered Transportation Center, with the smokestack of the Maine Energy Recovery Company’s waste-to-energy incinerator as a backdrop, the first meeting of a group tasked with finding a way to rid Biddeford of the incinerator took place. The setting was a fitting one for the meeting, […]

BIDDEFORD — Tonight the public will get a chance to ask questions and make comments about the city’s proposed $55.5 million budget for fiscal year 2009-10. A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The proposed expenditures for the $55.5 million budget include approximately $23 million for […]

Local town and school officials and medical professionals held a press conference Thursday at Kennebunk Town Hall, pictured here, to address questions and concerns after Kennebunk Elementary School and a day care were closed due to two reported cases of swine flu in children who attend. (ROBYN BURNHAM/Journal Tribune)