One of Biddeford’s best-known and respected political leaders has decided that she is going to seek one of the two at-large seats on the Biddeford City Council.
Lisa Vadnais, 64, has served on the Biddeford School Committee for 16 years, including four years as that board’s chair. Over the last few years, Vadnais has demonstrated strong popularity among Biddeford voters and political observers.
In the last two election cycles (2023 and 2021), no one candidate has earned more overall votes than Vadnais. In 2023, she earned 3,374 votes for school committee. The next highest vote-getter was At-Large Councilor Marc Lessard with 3,021 votes and Mayor Martin Grohman with 2,894 votes.
Lisa Vadnais (Contributed photo)
Two years earlier, Vadnais garnered 3,297 votes for her return to the school committee. The next highest vote-getter that year was former mayor Alan Casavant with 3,237 votes, easily fending off a challenge by Victoria Foley for a sixth consecutive term.
“I just think it’s time for me to open a seat on the school committee for someone new; someone who can bring a fresh perspective to the table,” Vadnais said while explaining her decision to leave the school committee.
Vadnais said she is running for the city council because she is concerned about several things happening in the city, most notably rapid growth of large-scale housing projects that do little to benefit people who grew up in the city.
“I just think we need to take a pause and carefully consider what direction we want for our city.”
–Lisa Vadnais
“We can’t just keep spending taxpayer money without understanding the impact that has on people who are struggling to make ends meet,” Vadnais said.
Vadnais spent 35 years as a special education teacher in local schools. Today, she describes herself as “semi-retired,” working for a heating fuel company that she and her husband have operated for many years.
“I am not a politician,” she said. “I grew up here, I just think we need to take a pause and carefully consider what direction we want for our city.”
According to the Biddeford City Clerk’s office, Vadnais is the only at-large candidate who has turned in qualifying nomination papers in order to appear on the November ballot.
Other candidates hoping for one of the two at-large seats include incumbent Marc Lessard, former school committee member Dominic Deschambault, and political newcomers Greg Shapiro and Sterling Roop.
Note: Once the nomination process is completed in early September, the Biddeford Gazette will be providing comprehensive reporting on all of the candidates.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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In a surprise move, Roch Angers — a former Biddeford city councilor and current member of the city’s planning board – told members of the city council Tuesday that he has serious concerns about the University of New England’s plans to construct a large pier on the Saco River.
“Something about this whole mess doesn’t feel right to me,” Angers told the council. “The way I see it, something seems fishy about this.”
The Biddeford Planning Board voted 3-2 on July 16 to give UNE preliminary site plan approval for their proposed pier, a project that has stirred considerable controversy in the community.
The Planning Board is scheduled to make a final vote on the project at their next meeting later tonight (August 6).
Angers is one of two planning board members who voted against the project during the board’s July 21 meeting.
Although the city council and mayor have no oversight or control over the Planning Board, Angers told the Gazette he thinks everyone should “be made aware of what is happening.”
Planning Board member Roch Angers told the Biddeford City Council that he has serious concerns about how the city has handled the review process of UNE’s controversial proposal to build a large pier on the Saco River(Seaver photo)
Angers addressed the council during the “public comment” portion of Tuesday’s council meeting. During this time, members of the public can address the council on any topic for up to three minutes.
Following his remarks, Angers said he was still feeling frustrated about the issue, especially after Mayor Marty Grohman told Angers that he had exceeded his three-minute limit for public comment.
“I couldn’t finish what I wanted to say,” he said while standing outside the council chambers.
Angers says he has no animosity toward the university, but does have “serious concerns” about how the application has been handled by the city.
“There are rules, laws and procedures we have to follow,” Angers said. “We can’t just pick and choose the ordinances or laws that we want to follow.”
Angers said he is going to make a motion during tonight’s planning board meeting to table further discussion of the university’s proposal until he “can get some answers.”
Specifically, Angers said he is troubled by a noticeable lack of public input during a complex review process that involved both state and federal agencies.
“Why was everything so quiet during their presentation to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers?” he asked, pointing out the fact that the federal agency did not hold any public hearings nor seek public input, despite the fact that university was able to secure a $3.5 million federal grant for the project from Senator Susan Collins.
We can’t just pick and choose the ordinances or laws that we want to follow.”
— Roch Angers
Angers said the Maine Department of Environmental Protection also gave its approval for the project without holding any public hearings, nor did they seek public input before making their decision.
During a previous interview with the Gazette, a UNE spokesperson said the university has followed all state, federal and local requirements when submitting their application.
“The University of New England has provided, and will continue to provide, all required and relevant documentation to the regulatory agencies and governmental bodies conducting the permitting process for our proposed research pier, said Sarah Delage, assistant vice president of communications.
During his commentary before the council, Angers also criticized former city manager James Bennett for removing both the city’s harbormaster and assistant harbor master from the review process of UNE’s application last year.
“Well, lo, and behold, he [Bennett] then appointed a railroad engineer with no local knowledge of the river to approve the plan,” Angers said.
Angers declined to speculate if he will be able to find support from his fellow planning board members to table the university’s application.
“I just did what I thought needed to be done,” Angers said. “The people of Biddeford need to know how the city is handling this affair.”
Angers said he was not able to complete his remarks, but offered a strong suggestion for Mayor Marty Grohman and members of the council.
“If this passes at the Planning Board, the mayor and city council should take a hard look at this project and ask themselves if they think everything is on the up and up,” Angers said. “All that matters to me is that we have transparency and a willingness to consider the impacts on mooring owners and other people in that area.”
“We’ll see how it goes tomorrow,” he said. “This is just my opinion.”
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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The Biddeford City Council Chamber came alive with excitement Tuesday as members of the state champion high school baseball team filed into the room amidst a buzz of respect and admiration.
Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman said, “today is a proud day for Biddeford,” as the players and coaches stood against the wall, holding the giant golden-baseball glove trophy.
Players and coaches from the 2025 State Championship Biddeford Tigers Baseball Team pose with Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman and members of the city council (Seaver photo)
On June 21 this year, the BHS Tigers rallied from two three-run deficits to beat Mt. Ararat and win their first state championship since 1984.
During a previous interview with the Gazette, Coach Keith LeBlanc described his team, which includes seven seniors, as “battle-tested” and always ready to play their hearts out.
On Tuesday, LeBlanc once again referred to his players as “some of the hardest working young men I have ever met.”
LeBlanc pointed out that his team was also recognized with the statewide Sportsmanship Award. “That is something that is pretty impressive,” LeBlanc told the crowd. “Generally, that award is given to a team that has put in a lot of effort but came up short in the playoffs.”
Team Captain Landon Sirois presents Mayor Grohman with a jersey featuring the signatures of every member of the Championship Team (Seaver Photo)
From across the room, someone yelled out. “Don’t forget to mention you were named as coach of the year!”
“The community support we received was nothing less than amazing,” LeBlanc told the mayor and council. “It is something I will never forget.”
Councilor Neva Gross described her excitement while watching the state championship game. “We were all so pumped,” she said. “We had so much fun, cheering them on, and Marty was right there, keeping the fans focused and excited,” she said, gesturing toward the mayor.
The entire team and all the coaches posed for a photo with the mayor and council.
On her way out of the chamber, one person was heard, saying, “I’m just so damn proud of these boys. They worked so hard for this.”
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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In reference to the old gas station sign located at the Five Points intersection:
Firstly, let me say that I love the idea as well as the submitted artwork. I can honestly say that as silly as it is, yes that sign is a landmark to the city as much as the mills are, in my opinion.
I have just one thought/concern. I know that it is being regarded as a project welcoming people to the city, but where that sign is, aren’t they theoretically already pretty far into the city?
Also, in reality, I am thinking that traffic driving by will be moving too fast to really appreciate the details in the new design. Add to that all of the existing wires and other infrastructure, I feel that maybe the sign will be shorted its due deserve.
Lastly, and this is kind of stupid but valid in this day and age. Suppose a truck tries to make that turn and screws the pooch, or an accident pushes a car into the pole. Who is footing the bill for the repairs? Would it be the city of the property owner?
I know that is hopefully a far-out idea, but you KNOW that sooner or later it will happen. And when it does, you know the lawyers and insurance companies will be fighting that one for years.
But as they say, don’t bring up a problem unless you can offer a solution, so here is my thought:
Take the whole sign, shorten the pole and move it to the corner down by Main Street and Mechanics Park (picture attached).
Rotate the sign so that the “blocks” are off to the left side, sort of facing traffic in both directions.
Following the design submitted by the artist, use one side coming into Biddeford to show 04005, and the side leaving Biddeford to show 04072. (When the sign is refurbished, place a blank in the center of the blocks so that the opposite sides don’t show through on each other.)
Instead of standard white lighting inside, line the internals with basic color changing LEDs so that during holidays and events, the sign can display in colors. (Example: red/green for Christmas, orange/purple for Halloween, red/white/blue for patriotic holidays, etc.
If you want to get really fancy, landscape a circular sitting area around the base with some benches and a plaque of some sort talking about the sign.
Lastly, thinking for the future, be sure to run extra electricity inside the pole and think about possibly adding (in the future) a permanent informational display board below the “blocks” more in the driver’s eyeline since so often we end up just placing a temporary sign on that patch of land anyway for parades, festivals, parking bans, etc.
Possibly Saco would throw some money at the project since it will display their zip as well and the informational sign in the future would be used to benefit both cities.
Oh, and my thoughts on painting the pole: some shade of standard Hunter Green or something to fit in with the park and local landscaping there.
I would also do what I can to aid in the project. I am sure the money set aside would fall short but I know we can find it somewhere.
The maintenance time saved over the years would be substantial I bet because you could use our own trucks and lifts to access the sign if it were shortened, as compared to needing a crane to access the top of the sign where it currently is.
I really feel that this is a great alternative to the current placement of the sign to pair with the sign’s new use: a great welcoming to the city — both cities, really.
Can you think of a better way to say “Welcome to our Main Street District”?
NOTE:James Krause is a resident of Biddeford. If you would like to submit a column or letter to the editor for publication in the Biddeford Gazette, please emailbiddefordgazette@gmail.com
John Chisholm has been interested in sharks as long as he can remember. Growing up in Plymouth, Mass. in the 1970s, he spent a lot of time searching for great whites on his dad’s commercial fishing boat.
An adjunct scientist at the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, Chisholm wasn’t the first in his family to take an interest in great white sharks. In 1921, Chisholm’s great-great grandfather caught white sharks on Prince Edward Island in mackerel nets while working as a lighthouse keeper.
Chisholm spent summers on Prince Edward Island as a kid and heard that story from his grandparents. Now, he says there’s scientific evidence, including fossil shark teeth, that white sharks have long been swimming in northern waters.
A great white shark swims off the coast of Cape Cod in 2021. Photo courtesy Kyle Oliveira.
“White sharks have always been here. They predate colonization by Europeans,” said Chisholm. “So it’s kind of frustrating when you see people saying they’re now moving into Canadian waters. They’ve always been in Canadian waters. They’ve always been in Maine waters.”
The presence of sharks are an indicator of an ecosystem’s good health, according to shark biologist Kyle Oliveira, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maine and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. Between the late 1800s and mid 1900s, the white shark population took a hit due to overfishing, meaning there were less recorded sightings of white sharks along the East Coast.
Thanks to protection measures like the Shark Finning Prohibition Act of 2000 and Shark Conservation Act of 2010, which make it illegal to remove shark fins from sharks at sea and promote sustainable shark management, those who track white sharks are beginning to see the populations recover.
As with any predator, sharks will tend to go where the food is. That could be one factor driving the sightings reported in Casco Bay in July. Both Chisholm and Oliveira pointed to a high concentration of striped bass in the Gulf of Maine, which is a source of prey for sharks.
“Everybody thinks the sharks are here for seals,” Chisholm said. While catching a seal is a “metabolic windfall” full of the lipid-rich nutrients adult sharks need, the predators have plenty of other food sources, too. Juvenile and sub-adult sharks tend to feed on schools of fish, according to Oliveira, who said recent research has found younger sharks are often the ones visiting Maine.
When it comes to finding food, Oliveira said convenience is key. “White sharks are really lazy animals, and they try and get whatever meal is gonna be easiest for them to catch,” Oliveira said. One favorite is a floating whale carcass because it provides easy access for sharks to chomp off pieces of blubber, another source of lipids.
Independent of shark population numbers, technology may be another driver of reported white shark sightings. When Chisholm started tracking white sharks in the Atlantic in the late 1970s, he’d hear about sightings second or third hand. He’d spend weeks, months, or occasionally years tracking down witnesses to interview them about what they thought they saw, being careful not to ask leading questions that would sway the answers one way or another.
“White sharks are really lazy animals, and they try and get whatever meal is gonna be easiest for them to catch,”
— Kyle Oliveira
“In 1985 I might have only had three sightings for that year. That doesn’t mean there were only three white sharks. It just means I tracked down three people that saw them,” Chisholm said.
Nowadays, Chisholm opens up social media to track sightings across videos and photos posted to Instagram and X. Many of those sightings turn out to be basking sharks rather than white sharks, but the information contributes to data on multiple shark species and their behavior throughout New England.
Through his role at the New England Aquarium, Chisholm is also responsible for verifying shark sightings reported on the Sharktivity app. The app is a form of citizen science, allowing witnesses to contribute to a growing database that helps inform work done by researchers across the region.
As of July 31 this year, there have been 15 confirmed sightings of white sharks off of Maine’s coast, with one sighting reported as far north as Camden.
In addition to reporting shark sightings on the app, Chisholm recommended that those who spot a shark contact their local harbor masters with the location and time of the sighting.
Doing so can help spread awareness and reduce paranoia. One rule of thumb is to avoid swimming with the bait, Chisholm said. Beyond that, Oliveira encouraged beachgoers to remember that the ocean is home for sharks.
“It’s a sign of a healthy, productive ecosystem, so having white sharks around is a really good thing,” Oliveira said.
As the climate changes, researchers like Oliveira are working to understand how white sharks will be affected. Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Maine are warming faster than 99 percent of the global ocean as a result of climate change, yet sharks can regulate their internal body temperature and find suitable habitat in waters ranging from 37-89 degrees Fahrenheit.
What’s unclear, Oliveira said, is how lower levels of the food chain will fare under changing conditions. Impacts there could eventually work their way up to white sharks at the top.
Note: This story was originally published by The Maine Monitor, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. To get regular coverage from The Monitor, sign up for a free Monitor newsletter here.
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ABOUT THE REPORTER: Julia Tilton is a freelance reporter covering climate and the environment, contributing to The Maine Monitor and The Daily Yonder. At the latter, she co-hosts the Keep it Rural podcast, a biweekly podcast that digs into the nuance of the latest science and politics news impacting rural America.
Julia previously worked on NASA’s Curious Universe podcast and her reporting has been featured in news outlets from Nashville to Mexico. She grew up in southern New Hampshire and is partial to the mountains and forests of the Northeast.
Understandably, the mayor was less than pleased by what I wrote about him in that editorial. How do I know the mayor was upset? After all, he didn’t contact me directly to offer his perspective on the matter.
I learned about the mayor’s displeasure from back-channel sources. This is becoming a regular trend with this mayor.
When I pissed off former mayors Alan Casavant, JoAnne Twomey, Jim Grattelo, Wallace Nutting or Donna Dion, trust me — I heard about it — from them. Sometimes I apologized, sometimes I didn’t.
Marty does his very best to avoid difficult or challenging subjects. He would much rather post a “selfie” of himself in a variety of locations, always posing. Always smiling.
Here I am with an unhoused person. Here I am with a Vietnam veteran! Here I am with a downtown merchant! Here I am watching traffic!
Mayor Marty Grohman buys an Italian sandwich and wants you to know about it (Photo: Facebook, Marty’s Community Corner)
A few weeks ago, I joked that the most dangerous place in Biddeford is the space between Marty Grohman and an available camera.
Marty isn’t so much supporting Biddeford as he is supporting himself — always ready for the next photo-op, the next group photo, the next feel-good proclamation, avoiding controversy and difficult questions at all costs.
Marty doesn’t want pesky reporters like me looking under the carpet at City Hall or writing stories that are difficult to explain and reconcile.
What Marty seems to want from the media is an enhanced level of public relations, not hard-hitting journalism about an out-of-control city manager, a blistering report from the city’s financial auditors or problems with delayed sewer bills.
George Orwell reportedly once opined that “Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed; everything else is public relations.”
I happen to agree with Mr. Orwell. The Biddeford Gazette is not here to support the mayor’s or anyone else’s PR strategies. We’re here to tell you all the news; the good, the bad and the ugly.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
To be honest, Marty was not the only one upset about my July 13 editorial. I also heard from a few of the mayor’s closest supporters, all telling me that I was making a mountain out of a molehill. They extolled all the good things that Marty has done and continues to do for the city.
They are right. Marty deserves plenty of credit for some good things, and no one can reasonably argue that he has anything less than enthusiastic passion for his adopted hometown.
In fact, I would say that cheerleading is an important part of what the mayor should be doing. On this front, Marty gets an A+ from me, and I mean that as a sincere compliment.
But was I wrong about a lack of leadership from the mayor’s office?
Marty Grohman announces that he will be seeking reelection with – – another selfie photograph. (Photo: Facebook, Marty’s Community Corner)
Over the last three weeks, we have seen some mounting evidence that supports my argument, most notably from two men who watch the mayor much more closely than most everyone else in the city.
Councilor Norman Belanger and Council President Liam LaFountain have each announced that they will be challenging Grohman for the mayor’s seat.
Both men say the city is currently lacking strong leadership. Belanger is 68, LaFountain is 28. They are very different individuals. They sometimes disagree but they are saying the same thing here: Biddeford needs and deserves strong leadership.
Consider this: Belanger and LaFountain both have a front row view of the mayor. They all attend the same meetings, even those behind-closed-door-executive session meetings where discussions about city personnel or legal matters take place.
Belanger is more of a traditional, old-school Biddeford politician. He is smart, friendly and truly wants what’s best for Biddeford. LaFountain is a younger and more dynamic candidate who will likely appeal to a broad range of citizens with his pledge to increase transparency and data-driven solutions.
Despite their differences, both men say the same thing: Biddeford is lacking real leadership.
During a fairly recent meeting with a resident, Grohman threw up his arms and joked: “I don’t even have the power to decide what sodas are available in the City Hall soda machine.”
Do you think if Jim Grattelo wanted a Mountain Dew in City Hall that his request would be rebuffed by some mid-level bureaucrat?
Are you kidding me? Do you think if Jim Grattelo wanted a Mountain Dew in City Hall that his request would be rebuffed by some mid-level bureaucrat? Or if Joanne Twomey wanted a Dr. Pepper?
Almost one year ago today, I bumped into Marty at a Chamber of Commerce function. At the time, I had given up my role as a reporter in order to orchestrate a full-throttle campaign to get rid of former City Manager Jim Bennett. (Hindsight now reveals that I was on the side of the angels with that campaign).
Marty was not happy about my work. “Why are you doing this to me?” he asked in a frustrated tone. “I’ve only been in office six months.”
Marty didn’t complain that I was making the city look bad, or even that I was making the city manager look bad. His complaint was that my work to oust Bennett also made Marty look bad. And that’s a big no-no.
I do not think Marty is a bad mayor, but I do think the city needs strong leadership.
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That’s my perspective, and I welcome yours. The Biddeford Gazette is always more than happy to publish letters to the editor, op-eds or columns about Biddeford, its people, places and politics from our readers.
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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The race to become Biddeford’s next mayor has now turned into a three-way contest.
City Council President Liam LaFountain told the Biddeford Gazette this week that he will give up his Ward Seven council seat to join the race for mayor.
LaFountain now joins fellow city councilor Norman Belanger in opposing incumbent Mayor Marty Grohman.
“I’ve had many conversations with neighbors across the city, and there’s a clear message coming through. Too many decisions are being made without enough accountability, and I agree,” LaFountain said. “City government exists to serve the public. People are frustrated because they feel unheard, and in recent years, we’ve drifted away from the kind of leadership that takes responsibility and delivers results. It’s time for a course correction.”
LaFountain, a former member of the city’s Recreation Commission, first joined the council in 2021. Two years later, he was unopposed for his reelection to represent Ward Seven. He then won a bid to become the council president (6-3) ousting Belanger from that role.
Liam LaFountain (File Photo)
“The public interest must be at the center of every decision Biddeford makes,” LaFountain said.
LaFountain, 28, is employed as a senior data analyst for Healthcare Purchaser Alliance, a non-profit organization headquartered in Falmouth. He grew up in Biddeford, and his father Llyod LaFountain served on the Biddeford School Committee and as a state senator in the late 1990s.
The younger LaFountain is often described by his peers and other political observers as “thoughtful, analytical, measured and hard-working.”
LaFountain said that his professional experience as a data analyst will help him bring a fact-based, detail-oriented approach to City Hall. “I know for sure that smart decisions start with good information,” he said.
In recent months, LaFountain has pointedly raised concerns about controversial development deals involving credit enhancements and tax increment financing, proposals that have drawn the ire of many residents.
“Pointing out only the good news doesn’t solve problems. The voters know we have serious problems, and they want hard facts.
True leadership is telling the truth about a difficult issue and then finding the best solution.”
“Voters are smart, and the last thing I’ll ever do is insult their intelligence,” LaFountain said. “Yes, Biddeford is a great city, yes, fantastic things have been happening here in the last decade, and yes, that will continue. But we can no longer gloss over the very real staffing, financial, and accountability challenges.
“Pointing out only the good news doesn’t solve problems,” he added. “The voters know we have serious problems, and they want hard facts. True leadership is telling the truth about a difficult issue and then finding the best solution.”
LaFountain said he is encouraged that he’s already drawing support from a wide range of Biddeford residents, people with different perspectives, experiences, and priorities, who also strongly agree that a fresh approach and much more transparency are needed.
“I’m getting tons of encouragement for the idea that Biddeford should work for the people, not around them,” he said. “Voters are not inconvenient obstacles, in fact, quite the contrary. I look to Biddeford residents as a source of wisdom for city officials, and we need their full participation as we get back to basics with honest conversations, thoughtful planning, and decisions that serve the public good.”
LaFountain said his goals include increasing public engagement, strengthening oversight of city operations, and upholding the city’s fiduciary responsibility to manage taxpayer resources wisely, while advancing priorities like recreation investment, capital infrastructure, and responsible development that serves Biddeford’s long-term interests.
“I want every resident and taxpayer to know that, in my opinion. we need to right this ship and guesswork isn’t good enough. Data analysis will get us to evidence-based, forward-thinking policies that prioritize the public good over narrow interests. I hope to win the support of every Biddeford voter who agrees with that,” LaFountain said.
LaFountain graduated from Cheverus High School in 2015 and then attended Gonzaga University, a Jesuit school in Washington state, where he earned a degree in international relations.
He and his partner, Eisha, have been married five years and live on Elm Street.
Note:The Biddeford Gazette previously reported that both Marty Grohman and Norman Belanger are running for the mayor’s seat in the upcoming election. The Gazette plans to continue its comprehensive coverage of this year’s election, and we will have future stories about all the candidates,
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 