Technically speaking, it’s still autumn but it sure feels like winter here in southern Maine.
We’re now deep into the holiday season, and you probably have a growing laundry list of chores and preparations for the season.
But there is also lots of fun and joy to be had in Biddeford. Check our EVENTS page for the latest updates, including Santa’s planned visit on Sunday, Dec. 14 at Biddeford’s Central Fire Station on Alfred Street.
Santa is expected to visit the Biddeford Fire Department on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 5 p.m.
We experienced the first significant snowstorm of the season and the Biddeford Public Works Department once again stepped up to the plate to make sure the roads were cleared as soon as possible.
Public works director Jeff Demers says his department is ready for whatever Mother Nature brings
For example, did you know that Jeff and his crew plow 292 miles of roadways in Biddeford? That’s the equivalent of driving from City Hall in Biddeford to Albany, New York. Also, the city is expecting to use as much as 250 tons of salt on roadways this winter season.
Tuesday’s storm also impacted local politics. For the first time, the city’s biennial inauguration ceremonies were not held in City Theater. The event was online only because of slippery driving conditions and an active snow parking ban.
And even single-digit temperatures didn’t stop this year’s ‘Merry & Bright’ night in downtown Biddeford, complete with a tree lighting ceremony and a visit by Santa Claus.
We have more exclusive news stories on deck. We’re also working on a retrospective of the news and events that shaped 2025 in Biddeford, including our list of the year’s Top-Ten local stories.
Also, we are going to keep tradition alive, and publish our exclusive interview with Santa Claus on Christmas eve.
Once again, Biddeford’s downtown holiday celebration and annual tree lighting ceremony Friday night drew a decent crowd downtown on lower Adams Street.
Poppy (3) was excited to see Santa Claus arrive along with her parents Stephanie and Michael of Biddeford (Seaver photo)
Santa Claus arrived on schedule, escorted by the flashing lights and the wailing sirens of a Biddeford Fire truck. Although the city’s new tree is less than nine feet tall, the crowd let out a roar once it was lit by strands of colored lights.
Santa Claus leads the crowd in a countdown to the tree lighting (Seaver photo)
This year’s event — coordinated by the Heart of Biddeford — offered something for everyone, including the “Merry Makerfair Holiday Market,”transforming the former Adams Street Courthouse into a modern-day North Pole elves’ workshop. More than 50 local vendors and artisans displayed a wide range of unique, handmade gifts.
The Merry Makerfair Holiday Market showcased unique, hand-crafted gifts from more than 50 local artisans (Seaver Photo)
Keeping traditions alive, the Biddeford Recreation Department offered a smores-making station and several firepits and games for younger children.
Micah, 6, from Saco, had some good luck at a fishing station. (Seaver photo)
City Councilor Roger Beaupre and his wife, Penny, attended the event. “Because of the cold, I didn’t expect this many people,” Beaupre said, pointing out that it was somewhat difficult to find a parking space.
Despite frigid temperatures, a good-sized crowd turned out for Biddeford’s annual tree lighting ceremony (Seaver photo)
According to our well-placed, high-level sources at the North Pole, Santa Claus will be making another visit to Biddeford on Sunday, December 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Central Fire Station on Alfred Street.
In related holiday news, on. Dec. 14, Biddeford will also kick off this year’s Hannukah celebration with a downtown Menorah Lighting ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m.; 17 Lincoln Street.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
c.) 2025 All Rights Reserved
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Spend just a few minutes talking with Biddeford’s Public Works Director Jeff Demers and you quickly learn that his department is literally the heart of all city operations.
In fact, Demers and his crew are tasked with taking care of all the things many residents take for granted, from trash collection to snow plowing during winter storms.
But Demers’ list of responsibilities runs much deeper than the large orange trucks we see moving snow or collecting household waste.
The public works department also takes care of all city vehicles, including ambulances, fire trucks and police cruisers – from routine oil changes to tire rotation and fan-belt repairs.
Public Works Director Jeff Demers poses near a fleet of trucks being prepared for the next winter storm (Seaver photo)
Other city departments rely heavily upon the Public Works Department.
“We take care of maintenance of the city’s parks and recreation facilities, and we do the construction of projects coordinated by the Engineering Department,” Demers says. “Yeah, you could safely say we keep the city running and functioning as it should.”
Additionally, the public works department oversees all operations at the city’s wastewater treatment facilities, ensuring that the city meets or exceeds state and federal environmental regulations.
“Stop and think about it for a minute,” Demers explains. “If we stop working, things grind to a halt pretty quickly. What’s going to happen to your trash? You don’t want to see sewer back-ups or snow-covered roads and sidewalks. We keep the school busses running and handle most city repairs.”
Demers says his department would be “nothing” without a team of “exceptional, hardworking employees.”
“Public Works may be the heart of the city, but our employees are the heart of our operations, day in and day out,” he said.
Demers says he has 64 employees, including 14 employees in the wastewater department.
Demers has worked 30 years for the city, the last eight as director of public works. “I am lucky to work with some outstanding people,” he said.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow . . .
Despite our assumptions about the busy season, Demers says winter weather months are a “bit of a lull” that allows his team ample time to catch up on some inside projects.
But when Mother Nature hits, Demers and his team hit back.
Snow plowing services are more complicated than you would expect. Demers has the city divided into more than 10 different zones. Each zone has unique characteristics such as one-way streets, dead ends or especially narrow rights of way and environmentally sensitive areas.
Demers stands in front of a large, 280-ton pile of road salt that should get the city through this winter season (Seaver Photo)
Roughly 35 people are available to work various equipment during the storms, including plows, graders, loaders and sidewalk clearing vehicles.
Each piece of equipment features a computer that tracks the position of all vehicles during a storm event, including data about the amount of sand and magnesium chloride.
“Nothing is left to guesswork,” Demers explains. “We know exactly where and how each piece of equipment is functioning.”
As an example, Demers pointed out that during last Tuesday’s winter storm, roughly 26 tons of salt and 97 gallons of magnesium chloride were used in the Biddeford Pool neighborhood for just one storm.
When calculating labor, fuel and other factors, the city spent roughly $2,161 just to clear public roads and rights-of-ways in Biddeford Pool during one storm.
Without fail, especially during the first storm of the season, many residents complain that they did not know a parking ban was in effect, despite the city’s best efforts of publishing information on social media, and through television news stations. You can also learn about snow bans by signing up for automatic e-mail updates.
“Bottom line, we have to get the roads cleared,” Demers explains. “If the area is expecting more than just a couple of inches, you should probably prepare for an overnight parking ban.”
Demers says he relies on information from NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration) and local news channels in determining when to issue a parking ban.
During last week’s storm, which lasted almost 24 hours, Demers said he had crew members working 24 hours through the storm to keep the city’s streets and roads cleared.
In total, Demers says his team plows roughly 292 miles of road (two lanes) in Biddeford. By comparison that would be the equivalent of plowing one lane from Biddeford to Albany, New York.
“Technology is really helping us,” Demers said. “We can report what each storm costs and that helps us when determining our budget request from the city.”
The city’s salt shed has the capacity to store roughly 325 tons of salt. Currently, the city has 280 tons of salt in the garage. “I’m hoping that will get us through the winter,” Demers said while standing in front of large hill of road salt.
“We’re always looking for ways to cut costs.”
Ongoing projects, saving taxpayer dollars
Demers points to a long laundry list of tasks that need his department’s attention, including a sewer upgrade on Lincoln Street to accommodate two new housing projects near the city’s parking garage on Pearl Street.
The intersection of May and Alfred streets is being reconfigured so that traffic from May Street will only be able to turn right onto Alfred Street.
By stepping in and providing in-house services, Demers said his department has helped the city save a lot of money, including a repair of a large, river-side retaining wall (roughly $3.5 million in savings) and rebuilding the destroyed bathhouse at Biddeford Pool (roughly $160,000 in savings).
“We’re always looking for ways to cut costs and improve efficiencies,” Demers said.
But budget realities hit the public works department hard.
“We’re always looking to hire the right people,” Demers said. “We want the skilled workers, the people with carpentry, plumbing or electrical skills but we can’t offer a very competitive salary. Someone with a CDL (commercial driver’s license) can probably earn as much as 30 percent more in the private sector.
“I’m fortunate to have great people working here, but I would say my biggest challenge is figuring out how to keep them here.”
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
c.) 2025 All Rights Reserved.
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Although the Biddeford Planning Board narrowly approved the University of New England’s controversial pier proposal in August, a required building permit will not be issued by the city until a decision comes down from the York County Superior Court.
The city has filed a formal complaint against the Saco River Corridor Commission (SRCC), a quasi-state agency tasked to review and control development on the Saco River.
The city of Biddeford will not issue a building permit for UNE’s controversial pier proposal until a decision regarding the validity of the review process comes from York County SuperiorCourt
As first reported in the Biddeford Gazette, new questions were raised in October about the review process. Specifically, the city now says that a previous decision by the SRCC — from more than 24 years ago — should have disqualified the project.
In 2001, the SRCC and the university created a 250-foot, no-development zone along the shoreline of UNE’s campus. That agreement was made as a compromise to allow construction of two dormitory buildings that would exceed a 35-foot height restriction.
The university is now hoping to construct an access road for its new pier through that buffer zone.
During their review of the university’s proposal last year, the SRCC failed to consider its previous ruling. “It was a mistake,” said Cheri Dunning, executive director of the SRCC during an October interview with the Gazette.
Dunning described the mistake as an “omission of information.” Because the agency’s approval happened more than 30 days ago, Dunning said there was nothing the SRCC could do to remedy the error.
“Our staff is working hard to prevent this type of error in the future,” Dunning said.
A few days later, Dunning sent an email to Roby Fecteau, the city’s code enforcement officer. In that email, she opined that the SRCC can alter any decision it makes. She also denied saying that the decision was a mistake on the part of the SRCC.
“The condition was created by, and thus can be altered by, the Commission,” Dunning wrote in her email to Fecteau.
When contacted Wednesday, Dunning refused to answer any questions that were not submitted to her in writing.
The Gazette sent Dunning an email, asking for comments and clarification. She did not respond to our inquiry, as of press time.
City Attorney Harry Center said the formal complaint was filed because the city wants to “maintain the integrity of the review process.”
“We’re not seeking money nor damages,” Center said. “We’re simply asking the court to instruct the SRCC to reconsider the permit.”
In early November, the Biddeford City Council voted unanimously to seek “guidance about the permit” from the Maine Attorney General’s office.
The AG’s office declined the city’s request for intervention, citing the fact that the city has its own legal counsel and that the attorney general’s office would likely represent the SRCC in any legal action.
“Municipalities rely on consistent, lawful application of state permitting standards,” said Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain.
“When a statutory buffer required by a prior permit is overlooked, it is essential for the matter to be properly reviewed,” LaFountain said. “Our goal is to ensure that decisions affecting the Saco River comply fully with applicable law and long-standing environmental protections.”
Donald Furman serves as Biddeford’s representative on the Saco River Corridor Commission.
Furman, an attorney, said he had “no knowledge” of the city’s complaint, which was filed nearly two weeks ago.
“This is news to me,” Furman said when contacted by the Gazette.
In the city’s complaint to the court, the University of New England is listed as an interested party.
UNE spokesperson Sarah Delage said the university “respectfully disagrees” with the city’s position.
Delage said the permit issued in 2001 for new dormitory building does not preclude the building of an access road within the 250-foot vegetative buffer along the river.
“It allows for development within that zone if the SRCC reviews the plan and finds that it adequately maintains appropriate vegetation levels,” Delage wrote in a statement to the media. “During the SRCC approval process for this project, the SRCC provided feedback on UNE’s re-vegetation plan. The project that was ultimately approved reflects that feedback.
Delage also said the university never claimed that the University would never propose any activity within the vegetative buffer.
“The research pier is an important educational and scientific asset that will support UNE’s marine science programs and contribute to environmental research benefiting our coastal community,” Delage wrote. “UNE is committed to responsible development and environmental stewardship of our waterfront campus.”
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
c.) 2025 All Rights Reserved
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Given increasing complaints, are train horns in Biddeford louder and more frequent?
By JIM KRAUSE, Contributing Writer
People living near railroad tracks in Biddeford are making noise about freight train horns that sound at all hours of the night. Rail officials say they are required by law — and in some cases for public safety.
The railroad through Biddeford dates to around 1842, nearly 20 years before the Civil War.
When the tracks were built, they were mostly surrounded by trees and open areas. As the train approached town, it passed mills and downtown businesses.
The building that now houses Champions Sports Bar once served as the Boston and Maine Railroad’s freight station. A small yard sat alongside the main tracks for switching and storing freight cars headed to the mill complex.
The former Boston & Maine freight station is today the location of Champion’s Sports bar.
But why do the horns seem louder now?
City officials in July 2024 removed a homeless encampment from Mechanics Park. The hope was that displaced residents would move to shelters or other resources. However, many relocated instead to James Street along the tracks.
In July, a CSX train struck and killed a trespasser between James and Main streets.
Officials from CSX and Amtrak — CSX owns the tracks and Amtrak leases the right to use them — say train crews are trained under Federal Railroad Administration regulations. Those rules (49 CFR Parts 222 and 229) require the use of horns or bells near crossings and whenever there are obstructions or people close to the right of way.
“One engineer described the area as ‘like dodging raindrops.’” Engineers say distractions such as headphones pose dangers, leaving horns as their only warning tool.
Another factor: a phenomenon known as temperature inversion.
On clear, calm nights, sound waves can bend downward, making horns seem louder. With fewer competing noises at night — traffic, sirens, kids playing — the horns stand out even more. And with most leaves off trees during fall and winter, fewer barriers exist to absorb sound.
Are we hearing train horns more than before? Probably.
Are train crews sounding them simply to keep residents awake? Probably not.
These tracks existed long before most nearby homes and businesses. Anyone moving into the area should expect an active railroad.
In a sense, the public has built around the railroad, so it makes little sense to blame crews for loud horns and weather conditions that amplify them.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a longtime railroad employee put it this way:
“People assume train crews are cold and emotionless machine operators. They don’t know what it’s like to sit in that seat, knowing you are about to hit someone and can’t do anything but blow your horn.
“I can hit the brakes, but the train isn’t stopping for half a mile or more. So yeah — if I’m going through an area where I know there are homeless people camping along the tracks, I’m blowing that horn. A lot.”
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Jim Krause is a freelance writer living in Biddeford. He can be contacted at jiggyjim@live.com
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The city of Biddeford’s 153rd inauguration ceremony was markedly different than in years past.
For the first time, the ceremony was held online because of inclement weather.
Although typically an evening of pomp and circumstance, including an emcee and reception, this year’s ceremony – held on the Zoom platform — took less than 10 minutes.
Mayor Liam LaFountain takes the oath of office from City Clerk Robin Patterson (top left) while School Committee member Michelle Landry looks on during an online ceremony via Zoom.
City Clerk Robin Patterson first administered the oath of office to school committee members and then moved on to the city council members before swearing in Mayor Liam LaFountain.
The new mayor – wearing a jacket and tie – offered brief remarks, congratulating the members of the city council and school committee.
LaFountain urged the new councilors and school committee members to “govern with courage,” ensuring that “the public interest must be at the center of every decision we make.”
“I look forward to working with each of you as we address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,” LaFountain said while invoking his campaign promise to ensure city government is held to strict standards of accountability and transparency.
The new mayor highlighted several policy goals and priorities for the new administration, including housing, affordability, good schools and accessible parks and open spaces.
“Biddeford has always been a community of giving,” the mayor said. “Let us continue that tradition of giving as we move forward.”
The new city council features three returning members: Councilors Marc Lessard, Roger Beaupre and Dylan Doughty. New members include Patricia Boston in Ward One; Abigail Woods in Ward Two; David Kurtz in Ward Five; Jake Pierson in Ward Six; Brad Cote in Ward Seven; and Lisa Vadnais as an at-large councilor. Both Boston and Cote previously served on the council.
The new school committee includes Emily Henry, Tim Stebbins, Michelle Landry, Megan Desjardins, Amy Clearwater, Marie Potvin and Karen Ruel.
The requirements of the city’s charter prohibited rescheduling the event. The public was invited to join the meeting as observers.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
c.) 2025 All Rights Reserved
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The Apex Youth Connection in Biddeford offers a wide range of programs to help teens transition to adulthood
ByRANDY SEAVER,Editor
It’s quite common to hear about after-school programs that get kids off the streets and into a productive, structured setting.
Apex Youth Connection (AYC) in Biddeford, however, takes a different approach to nurturing and empowering teens. Apex is all about getting kids on the street and engaged in their community.
APEX is a nonprofit organization that grew from rather humble roots and today serves hundreds of kids between the ages of 10 and 18 with after school programs between 3 and 6 p.m.; and a variety of free programs throughout the summer.
Founded in 2001, Apex was formerly known as the Community Bike Center (CBC), a project that began in founder Andy Greif’s garage, where kids could earn a bicycle by helping rebuild donated bicycles with spare parts.
Students learn valuable life skills while repairing and rebuilding bicycles at the Apex Youth Connection facility in Biddeford (Courtesy photo)
With broad support from the community, the CBC was able to grow and purchase its current facility on Granite Street in Biddeford. The property encompasses six acres, abutting Clifford Park. It includes a rock-climbing wall and a bike skills course.
Executive Director Michael Chapman said several programs have been added over the years. Apex today is much more than a clubhouse for kids who love to ride and work on bicycles, he said.
Chapman said the majority of kids served at Apex are students at either Biddeford Middle School or Saco Middle School.
“That age group seems to be the real sweet spot for us,” Chapman said during a recent interview. “We are all about building relationships, teaching kids the skills they will need as adults.”
The organization’s mission statement is straightforward
“Apex is dedicated to enriching the lives of youth through hands-on activities and outdoor adventure, while fostering meaningful mentorships in an environment where every child feels safe and valued.”
Chapman says Apex relies on a wide range of community partners, local businesses and donors to keep their programs accessible for all kids.
“If you’re thinking about Giving Tuesday, we’d love to have your support,” Chapman said.
Chapman says Apex offers young people an opportunity to get a head start on job readiness, providing the larger community with young people who are prepared for workforce development.
“It’s about much more than turning a wrench,” Chapman said. “We teach responsibility, goal setting and even customer service. You cannot teach anyone unless they respect you. We earn that respect by empowering these kids.”
Sarah Hoover is the program manager at Apex, one of four full-time employees.
Hoover said Apex is constantly looking for community partnerships. “Our goal is to be embedded in the fabric of this community,” she said. “To do that, we rely on volunteers and community connections.”
“You cannot teach anyone unless they respect you. We earn that respect by empowering these kids.”
— Michael Chapman
Kids at Apex learn much more than about how to rebuild or repair bicycles. They learn about good behavior; and about being good citizens within the community.
Although Apex offers several different programs and events, they are perhaps best known for their Apex Bike Factory program.
The Bike Factory program is at the center of Apex’s ongoing activities and skills training programs and “is the core of our Job Readiness Program.”
The bike factory is a full-service bike shop run by middle and high school students and is open to the public for bicycle repairs and tune-ups.
“We’re able to provide work experience and skills that these kids can take forward into their adult lives,” Chapman says. “Every kid has a spark. You just need to light that spark and watch them grow into the person they were meant to be.”
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
c.) 2025 All Rights Reserved
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BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 