I would like to respond to your recent article on the city council budget discussions around funding for the Seeds of Hope Center. (Biddeford’s unhoused funding challenges, April 24, 2026).
It is helpful to recall that the city, working cooperatively with Seeds of Hope, was successful in resolving a significant human tragedy and public safety issue in the form of the encampment in Mechanics Park.
Without the center, its staff and volunteers, and its presence in the Biddeford community those currently being served will face the same choices and situations that resulted in the 2024 encampment.
UNHOUSED ENCAMPMENT | This July 2024 File Photo by Randy Seaver was taken just days before the city cleared out th. The city then asked Seeds of Hope to help design a new alternative.
__________
No doubt there will be those who will call for incarcerating the unhoused to prevent this from happening. Doing so will make the requested Seeds budget seem like a fond memory compared to the cost of incarcerating individuals in local jails, not to mention the continued dehumanization caused by criminalizing poverty.
I have spent time at Seeds talking with many of the folks that come there for a meal or a place to spend the night. With very, very few exceptions, none of these individuals were unhoused by choice. Some, in fact, are living with deep struggles that keep them unhoused.
Certainly, these individuals may need some form of a structured residential setting to help them through. But significantly, there is also simply a lack of affordable rental options. I’m not sure why double-digit rent increases haven’t brought increased city revenue from taxes on apartment property owners, but I’ll leave that for others to figure out.
Two final points in closing.
First, I object strongly to Councilor [Marc] Lessard’s shameless and unsubstantiated “dog whistle” blaming the unhoused for people “no longer feeling safe going downtown” and suggesting that the decline of the downtown business climate is “probably as a result of this issue.”
There is no credible causal link between being unhoused and committing criminal behavior towards others that I have found. In fact, being unhoused makes someone much more likely to become a victim of crime, violent or otherwise.
Finally, the city should consider the fact that Seeds not only serves the unhoused but also serves many individuals and families that are housed but unable to afford both meals and housing.
Closing the center will place these individuals and families that much closer to joining the ranks of the unhoused and compounding the entire situation. “Penny wise and pound foolish” as my grandmother liked to say.
Evan Doyon collected three hits in four at bats, as Biddeford Varsity Tigers defeated Windham Varsity Windham Varsity Eagles 14-7 on Friday at St Louis Field. Doyon singled in the fourth inning, singled in the fifth inning, and singled in the sixth inning.
Biddeford Varsity Tigers opened the scoring in the first after Alex Gosselin grounded out, scoring one run.
Windham Varsity Windham Varsity Eagles made the score 3-1 in the top of the third after an error scored one run, and Mason Rulman singled, scoring two runs.
Parker Blais singled down the right field line, which helped Biddeford Varsity Tigers tie the game at three in the bottom of the third.
In the bottom of the fourth, Biddeford Varsity Tigers broke up the tie when Doyon singled, scoring two runs. Then a sacrifice fly by Payton Blais followed to extend the lead to 6-3.
Windham Varsity Windham Varsity Eagles took the lead in the top of the fifth inning after JJ Saunders singled down the left field line, Rulman walked, Biddeford Varsity Tigers committed an error, and Maddix Morgridge singled to center field, each scoring one run.
Biddeford Varsity Tigers flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the fifth, scoring five runs on three hits to take the lead, 11-7. The biggest blow in the inning was a walk by Ernie Dore that drove in two.
Biddeford Varsity Tigers amassed nine hits in the game
Dore earned the win for Biddeford Varsity Tigers. The pitcher gave up seven hits and seven runs (four earned) over five and one-third innings, striking out four and walking three. Anthony Rinaldi led things off on the hill for Windham Varsity Windham Varsity Eagles. The starting pitcher allowed four hits and six runs (two earned) over four innings, striking out two and walking four. Blais threw one and two-thirds innings of zero-run ball for Biddeford Varsity Tigers in relief. The reliever surrendered zero hits, striking out two and walking none.
Biddeford Varsity Tigers amassed nine hits in the game. Blais led Biddeford Varsity Tigers with three runs batted in. The left-handed hitter went 1-for-2 on the day. Dore collected two hits for Biddeford Varsity Tigers in three at bats. Biddeford Varsity Tigers had patience at the plate, collecting eight walks for the game. Marcus Soucy and Blais led the team with two walks each. Biddeford Varsity Tigers ran wild on the base paths, collecting five stolen bases for the game. Biddeford Varsity Tigers turned one double play in the game.
Rulman provided pop in the middle of the lineup, and led Windham Varsity Windham Varsity Eagles with two runs batted in. The outfielder went 1-for-3 on the day. Mike Redlon and Morgridge each collected two hits for Windham Varsity Windham Varsity Eagles. Saunders stole two bases.
Next up for Biddeford Varsity Tigers is a game at Portland on Tuesday.
NOTE: Send your Biddeford team sports stories, photos and stats to biddefordgazette@gmail.com (Please be sure to add a phone number for verification/questions)
Biddeford Public Works Director Jeff Demers distributed a media statement to alert local motorists about a temporary road closure on outer Main Street, near the main entrance of Rotary Park.
According to Demers, this section of Main Street will be closed to all traffic on April 27, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a “critical infrastructure upgrade” project.
ONE BIG HOLE | The city of Biddeford has completed a lot of preliminary work in anticipation of major infrastructure upgrade project on outer Main Street, near the entrance of Rotary Park, including this 32-foot-deep hole near a pump station. | Seaver photo
The closure, Demers said, will allow Reed & Reed Crane Service, Shaw Brothers Inc., and Superior Concrete to set a new 10-foot diameter pumping station in place.
The following are traffic impacts and detour plans:
For eastbound traffic on South Street intending to access Main Street at the intersection of Main and South streets – there will no access to Main Street during the temporary closure.
The city is asking those motorists to follow a detour route via South Street to Mount Pleasant Street or Highland Street to continue eastbound to Elm Street.
For westbound Main Street traffic (from Elm Street): Motorists must detour via Highland Street or Mount Pleasant Street to reach South Street westbound.
Detour signs will be in place to provide directions for alternative traffic routes.
Demers said it is also important to note that no emergency vehicle access will be available through this section once crane operations begin.
“We are asking the public for patience and cooperation during this closure,” Demers said. “We appreciate the public’s support for this critical project.”
‘We’re using a butter knife, when we should be using a chainsaw,’ says Biddeford City Councilor Marc Lessard
By RANDY SEAVER | Editor
As the Biddeford City Council continues slogging through its review and recommendations for next year’s municipal budget, one particular issue has clearly become a contentious hot-button topic.
Councilors seem extremely split on how to best fund programs and services related to the city’s unhoused population.
On both Tuesday and Thursday evenings this week, councilors carefully reviewed information presented by Jake Hammer, the city’s unhoused service coordinator and director of the city’s General Assistance Department.
Opinions split sharply among councilors on whether to allocate $480,000 to the Seeds of Hope, a Biddeford-based non-profit organization that provides resources to the community’s “unhoused neighbors.”
A COMPLEX PROBLEM | Biddeford is York County’s largest and principal community, a position that is causing tension in how to address growing and complex issues related to homelessness. | Seaver, File Photo
_________
The challenges and complexities surrounding unhoused populations is not limited to Biddeford. Many other communities in Maine and across the nation are grappling with how best to address a complex issue that seems to be growing.
While some members of the council say they are comfortable with the Seeds of Hope’s $480,000 annual price tag, other councilors — including at-large representatives Marc Lessard and Lisa Vadnais — challenged the effectiveness of the organization and raised concerns about the neighborhood center’s downtown location and its impact on nearby businesses and residents.
On Thursday, Councilor Jake Pierson suggested cutting $100,000 from the Seeds of Hope budget allocation. Councilor Dylan Doughty seconded the motion, but the proposal failed to gain traction, ending with a 5-4 vote against (Pierson, Lessard, Doughty and Councilor Roger Beaupre, in favor)
Lessard — clearly frustrated during Thursday’s marathon discussion on the unhoused subject – rejected other councilors’ suggestions of incremental cuts to funding of unhoused services and the need for further discussion.
“We’re using a butter knife when we should be using a chainsaw,” Lessard quipped during Thursday’s budget workshop meeting.
Lessard then offered a motion to completely eliminate any funding for the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center.
Other councilors soundly rejected Lessard’s plan, 8-1.
Although Vadnais offered some of the most biting and skeptical questions about the Seeds of Hope and its existing programs, she did not support Pierson’s proposal to cut $100,000 nor Lessard’s proposal to completely eliminate funding.
When asked after the meeting why she rejected both funding reductions, Vadnais said she missed the opportunity to offer her own proposal about the budget allocation. “Obviously, I didn’t play my cards right,” she said.
COUNCILOR LISA VADNAIS | “What are all other costs? We have to look at the larger picture, right?”
Both Lessard and Vadnais repeatedly said the issue of unhoused residents and the Seeds of Hope operations are a dominant concern of their constituents, both pointing out that nearly every call and email they have received reflected declining public support for Seeds of Hope.
In fact, Lessard said the city’s downtown area has been significantly and adversely impacted ever since the Seeds of Hope Center on lower South Street began offering services.”
“People no longer feel safe going downtown,” Lessard said. “Downtown’s business climate has declined, probably because of this issue.”
Vadnais said a large portion of the community is opposed to any further funding of the city’s only unhoused services program.
“People no longer feel safe going downtown. The business climate has declined, probably because of this issue.”
— Councilor Marc Lessard
Other councilors pointed out that York County’s only unhoused shelter program – located in Alfred – closed last year and said they support more of a “regional approach” to addressing the needs of Biddeford’s unhoused residents.
In fact, Doughty sought support from his fellow councilors for establishing a “blue ribbon” commission to review alternative options, including state and federal sources and the feasibility for creating a regional shelter program that would also be supported by neighboring communities.
“We don’t have a definitive next step in front of us,” Doughty said, pointing to the current lack of available programs. “We have already dedicated millions of dollars to this. If we just stop now, we will be facing reimbursements from emergency hotel vouchers.”
Doughty proposed setting aside $25,000 to create such a study group, an idea that was narrowly passed 5-4 with Councilors Lessard, Pierson, Kurtz, Doughty, and Woods voting in favor.
Councilor Brad Cote said he liked Doughty’s concept but could not support any additional expenditures during an already lean budget process.
“This is a really tough budget year, and it just doesn’t make sense to spend any additional money,” Cote said.
Pierson said the city needs to find an alternative, long-term solution.
“We really need a Plan B because what we have in front of us is just a temporary fix to a larger issue,” Pierson said.
Councilor Pat Boston said she was surprised Thursday to hear such dramatic calls for reductions of funding for unhoused services.
“We had a really robust conversation about this on Tuesday, and now we’re talking about pulling the plug with no back-up plan,” Boston said. “Are we supposed to go back to chasing down and closing [homeless] encampments?”
But Lessard said the public is demanding a dramatically different approach to tackling unhoused issues.
“Times like these require substantial move and efforts,” Lessard said. “We have been carrying the water for so many other communities on this issue. I am being told we can’t afford upgraded breathing apparatus equipment for our firefighters. I’m having a hard time squaring this budget line [general assistance/unhoused] with so many of our city’s pressing needs.”
_________
COMMUNITY COMMENTS
Resident Melissa Caminiti appeared before the city council on Tuesday and urged them to address some very “concerning issues” that she has encountered in her own neighborhood and while visiting some of the city’s downtown park areas.
“It is becoming an issue that deserves our attention,” she said.
SPEAKER RYAN FECTEAU of Biddeford offered the council his full support in developing a long-term solution to address the city’s unhoused population and its challenges. | Seaver photo
___________
State Rep. Ryan Fecteau — Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives – appeared before the council and said he ‘is fully committed to helping find state resources to help develop a regional center that could provide more robust services for the area’s unhoused residents while also seeking financial support from other communities.
Tom McPheeters of Biddeford has been a volunteer at Seeds of Hope for nearly three years.
When asked his thoughts about the council’s discussion, McPheeters said he is trying to keep an open mind.
“The [Seeds of Hope] staff is doing the best they can, considering the current circumstances,” McPheeters said. “No matter what, there is never going to be enough services. Seeds is evolving but the reality can be overwhelming. It is what is what it is, but we are talking about our fellow humans. And we should all remember that.”
“We are talking about our fellow humans. We should all remember that.”
— Tom McPheeters, Biddeford
Real time issue | Long term solutions?
Hammer – who spent considerable time before the council on both Tuesday and Thursday – said without any viable options, the Seeds of Hope program remains as “the most effective and humane way” to address the needs of Biddeford’s unhoused residents.
UNHOUSED SERVICES COORDINATOR and General Assistance Director Jake Hammer | Seaver, File Photo)
“It is the only option we have in front of us,” Hammer said. “We can certainly look at alternatives going forward, but for today – in real time – there is a need, and Seeds of Hope is our best and most cost-effective choice.”
Hammer reminded councilors that the city’s state-mandated General Assistance program determines benefit eligibility on a case-by-case basis. The city’s receives 70 percent state reimbursement for each eligible person who requests funding, he said.
According to Hammer, somewhere between 35 and 45 percent of the Seeds of Hope funding line is eligible for state general assistance reimbursement.
__________
An Unfortunate Reality
Vassie Fowler, executive director of the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Resource Center, was out of town this week and unavailable to appear before the council during the meetings on Tuesday and Thursday.
During a brief telephone interview with the Gazette, Fowler said it is the council’s decision about how to address today’s current needs, but she also said the city’s elected leaders should remember some other realities that are equally as important as budget spreadsheets.
VASSIE FOWLER, executive director of the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center | File Photo
“No one dies at Seeds of Hope,” Fowler said. “People die when they live in hidden encampments – from exposure in the winter or from desperation after jumping in front of an upcoming train.”
Fowler said her program’s overnight warming center accommodates up to 50 adult residents, estimating that 75 percent of them are full-time Biddeford residents.
“No one dies at Seeds of Hope. People die when they live in hidden encampments – from exposure in the winter or from desperation after jumping in front of an upcoming train.”
— Vassie Fowler
While Councilors Lessard and Vadnais raised concerns about other financial impacts and public service demands at Seeds of Hope, Hammer said that more than 75 percent of emergency and fire services for unhoused service take place well beyond the vicinity of the South Street resource center.
The council is expected to continue debating this issue and other budget items over the next few weeks.
There will be at least two public hearings on the proposed budget before the FY ’27 budget is adopted and implemented.
For More Information | GA Department Funding Request [View/Download PDF]
DISCLOSURE | Vassie Fowler serves on the Biddeford Gazette’s Community Advisory Council.
CORRECTION | An earlier version of this story contained a factual error. City Councilor Abigail Woods caught the error and contacted the Gazette to clarify our reporting. Despite our earlier reporting, Councilor Doughty’s proposal to establish a study commission was, in fact, narrowly passed 5-4 with Councilors Lessard, Pierson, Kurtz, Doughty, and Woods voting in favor. The story has been updated. We apologize for the error. If you see or find a factual error in our reporting, please COTACT US
__________
READER FEEDBACK
MARK PORIER | I think a hard look needs to be made at compensation for the executive director (Vassie Fowler). FY 2024 Seeds of Hope IRS Form 990 shows her base compensation at $70811. FY 2025 IRS Form 990 shows an increase in salary for $97548. An increase of 37.8 percent in just one year. It’s interesting to note that the total compensation for the remainder of the staff totals $125847 for FY 24 and $133767 for FY 25. A very modest increase when compared to the executive director. Also staff levels doubled (excluding the executive director) from FY24 and FY25.
CINDY FAGAN | There but for the grace of God go every one of us. Anyone who lives in Biddeford and has ever had a loved one in active addiction understands the importance of Seeds of Hope. Cutting this funding will, without question, make the problem worse. We, along with most cities in this Country, need to continue to look for a longer-term, more effective, solution, but, for now, God bless the work down at Seeds of Hope!
The idea that Biddeford must “hold multiple truths at once” sounds reasonable, but it sidesteps a harder reality: priorities require trade-offs. When costs are rising for residents, choosing not to limit spending is a choice—one that shows up directly in higher property taxes.
Organizations like Heart of Biddeford played an important role years ago in revitalizing a struggling downtown. That success should be acknowledged. But success also raises a fair question: why should taxpayers continue subsidizing an organization that was expected to become self-sustaining?
__________
Downtown Biddeford is no longer defined by empty storefronts. Private investment, rising property values, and increased demand suggest that the original mission has largely been achieved. At some point, continuing public funding shifts from investment to dependency.
The claim that reducing funding for community organizations is simply “cut, cut, cut” mischaracterizes the issue. The real question is whether every program funded 10 or 15 years ago still delivers measurable, citywide value today. If it doesn’t, reallocating or reducing that funding isn’t an attack on community—it’s responsible governance.
Equally important, not all “community investment” is equal. Funding that expands the tax base, improves infrastructure, or directly reduces long-term costs benefits everyone. Funding that primarily sustains organizational payrolls—without clear, broad impact—deserves closer scrutiny.
Residents aren’t asking for a city with no services or vision. They’re asking for discipline, accountability, and relief from rising costs. That’s not a narrow perspective—it’s a practical one shared by many households trying to keep up.
Biddeford doesn’t face a false choice. It faces a necessary one: aligning spending with today’s realities, not yesterday’s successes.
Saco & Biddeford Savings and Paquin & Carroll Insurance are proud to announce their $20,000 donation to Sweetser in support of the construction of Maine’s first Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility on Sweetser’s Saco campus.
CONTRIBUTED STORY | Saco & Biddeford Savings and Paquin & Carroll Insurance are proud to announce their $20,000 donation to Sweetser in support of the construction of Maine’s first Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) on Sweetser’s Saco campus.This transformative project will provide secure, 24-hour psychiatric care for Maine’s most at-risk youth, addressing a critical gap in mental health services across the state.
Left to Right | Kristie Worster, Chief Program Officer, Sweetser; Justin Chenette, Chief Communications Officer, Sweetser; Meg Palmer, Community Engagement Officer, SBSI; Jayne Van Bramer, President & CEO, Sweetser; Tom Quentin, VP, Finance and Operations, Paquin & Carroll Insurance; Jodie Hansen, Director of Development, Sweetser. | Contributed photo
The facility, anticipated to open by early 2027, will feature 16 beds, therapeutic and group settings, outdoor recreation spaces and a trauma-informed environment designed to help youth recover and thrive. With over 100 children currently waiting for placement and many being sent out of state for care, this initiative will allow Maine children to receive the support they need closer to home, surrounded by their families and natural support systems.
“At the heart of this is a simple belief: Maine’s kids deserve to be safe, seen and supported, right here at home,” says Mark Jones, CEO of Saco & Biddeford Savings. “Sweetser’s Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility will be a beacon of hope for children and families across our state, and we’re honored to stand with them to help turn fear into healing and uncertainty into a real path forward.”
“At the heart of this is a simple belief: Maine’s kids deserve to be safe, seen and supported, right here at home,”
— Mark Jones, CEO, Saco & Biddeford Savings
Donations will help fund critical spaces within the facility, such as therapeutic activity studios and family connection hubs, ensuring that children and their families have access to the resources they need for recovery and reconnection, without having to travel out of state.
“We are incredibly thankful to Saco & Biddeford Savings and Paquin & Carroll Insurance for their longstanding partnership and their support,” says Jayne Van Bramer, Sweetser’s CEO. “Because of Saco & Biddeford Savings and Paquin & Carroll Insurance, we are one step closer to bringing Maine youth home and providing them with the care they need to heal and thrive. Together we are giving Maine families hope.”
Saco & Biddeford Savings and Paquin & Carroll Insurance encourage other organizations and individuals to join in supporting this life-changing project.
“We’re proud to support Sweetser’s work to expand access to timely, high-quality care for children and families across Maine,” says Josh Fearon, President of Paquin and Carroll Insurance. “Through this partnership, we can build hope and create a brighter future for Maine’s youth.”
“Through this partnership, we can build hope and create a brighter future for Maine’s youth.”
— Josh Fearon, president, Paquin and Carroll Insurance
For more information about Sweetser’s Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility or to learn how you can contribute, visit https://sweetser.ejoinme.org/1949979 or contact Sweetser’s Advancement Team at Giving@Sweetser.org.
ABOUT | Sweetser
Sweetser is a behavioral health nonprofit that provides evidence-based treatment, support and hope through a statewide network of community-based mental health, recovery, and educational services. MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT | Saco & Biddeford Savings
Founded in 1827, Saco & Biddeford Savings is Maine’s oldest bank. MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT | Paquin & Caroll Insurance:
Founded in 1928, Paquin & Carroll Insurance provides personal, business and financial insurance programs and advice, as well as providing employee benefits throughout Northern New England. MORE INFORMATION
Note: This is the first installment of an ongoing series of community highlights from our digital media friends. The Biddeford Gazette is simply sharing these features to promote the work of Biddeford natives Cy Cyr and Randy Forcier. The views and content shared are solely those of the independent producers. For more information about Cy Cyr or Randy Forcier, visit | OUR MEDIA FRIENDS
FRANK COLETTI, owner of Coletti’s Pizza in Biddeford, Maine, owns one of the most popular pizza shops in the state of Maine. At five years old, Frank lived through the 1980 earthquake in Naples, Italy. His family spent the next five years in temporary housing. | Photo and Story by Cy Cyr, Brick + Tides | READ MORE
SAM PECOR lost his bid for the Ward Seven Biddeford City Council seat in November 2025. Today, he is running unopposed to represent Ward Seven on the upcoming Biddeford Charter Commission. | WATCH
__________
Let’s Be Independent Together!
Want to share your content, stories, photographs or blog with Biddeford Gazette readers? We can make that happen!
More than two dozen local community and business leaders attended a special event sponsored by the Biddeford + Saco Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday to learn more about Central Maine Power (CMP) and how the utility delivers electricity to more than 670,000 residential and commercial customers in Maine.
Linda Ball — CMP’s relatively new Chief Executive Officer — led the lunchtime gathering with an overview of how the utility handles its operations, billing and customer service.
LUNCH & LEARN | Area community and business leaders said they learned some good information during a lunchtime event featuring a Chamber of Commerce presentation by the Central Maine Power Company. (Seaver photo)
_____
Later this year, CMP is scheduled to appear before the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to request a rate change that will help offset the costs of a 12-to-13-year program that CMP says will upgrade the grid and reliability across the region.
Many CMP customers throughout southern Maine this week received a written notice from CMP about the company’s plan to go before the PUC.
CMP’s service area encompasses 11,000 square miles and includes 25,000 miles of power lines
According to Ball, who took over as CEO roughly seven months ago, CMP is conducting several similar meetings throughout the region. She said the company is hoping to be more proactive in its public communication, education and outreach efforts.
As an example, Ball referenced the Hills Beach Road neighborhood that is located in coastal Biddeford.
That neighborhood, which juts out into the ocean waters of Saco Bay, was experiencing frequent outages.
In response, the company focused on upgrading power lines and utility poles in the area as well as tree and brush clearing to prevent wind-driven events from impacting the power lines.
“Our efforts to address that issue showed a dramatic improvement in reliability for our customers in that neighborhood,” Ball said — speculating it was unlikely that any of those customers even noticed the improvement and the company’s efforts to address a long-standing problem.
But Biddeford City Councilor Patricia Boston – a resident of the Hills Beach neighborhood – told Ball that she personally noticed an improvement in service and hasn’t experienced a power outage since the work was completed several months ago.
COMMITTED TO SERVICE | Linda Ball — CMP’s new chief executive officer — traveled to Saco Wednesday to meet with area business and community leaders. (Seaver photo)
Ball said the company’s long range improvement program is designed to balance reliability and affordability.
“In everything we do, we are constantly working to find that balance,” Ball told the Gazette during a brief interview after the presentation.
If the PUC approves CMP’s filing request, no customer would see an increase of anything more than $7 per month, she said.
Ball said she always appreciates the opportunity to meet directly with electricity customers.
“Meetings like this are very helpful because we’re dealing with some very complicated issues,” she said.
During her presentation, Ball explained several basics about how CMP operates and delivers electricity to its clients.
“We take our responsibility seriously,” she told the crowd, noting that the company enjoys an 87 percent customer satisfaction rating. “Of course, it would be better if that number were 99.9 percent – but it’s still a good number, and our entire tam is focused every day on improving our performance.”
Former Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman, State Rep. Alexender Marshall (D-Saco), former Saco Mayor Don Pilon and Delilah Poupore, executive director of the Heart of Biddeford, were among those who attended the “lunch & learn” event in a third-floor conference room at PeoplesChoice Credit Union.
Ball stressed that CMP does not generate electricity and said customers have several options about the sources of their power. But she also warned consumers to “be careful” if choosing a new source of generation.
“Sometimes they offer you temporary incentives to sign up, and then the billing spikes after the introductory period.
According to Ball, CMP’s service area encompasses 11,000 square miles and includes 25,000 miles of power lines.
Of the company’s 672,000 customers, 570,000 of those are residential customers, she said.
CORRECTION | In the original version of this story, we reported that CMP’s coverage area includes 25,000 miles of “road.” That is incorrect. CMP’s service area includes 25,000 miles of “power lines” We have corrected this error, and we apologize for the confusion.
As Biddeford’s budget conversations take shape, I’ve noticed a framing of the conversation that doesn’t quite serve our community: the idea that we must choose between keeping taxes low or supporting the services and programs that make our city work.
That’s a false choice, and an oversimplification.
DELILAH POUPORE testifies earlier this month during a public hearing regarding Biddeford’s municipal budget. (Seaver)
Of course, taxes matter. Rising costs are real, and they are affecting everyone. And of course, our city council has difficult decisions ahead, balancing where to reduce, where to invest and how to ask a bit from each of us.
But in moments like this, there can be a tendency — both locally and nationally — for the conversation to narrow. For voices that advocate for community investment to quiet. As if the only responsible position is to cut, cut, cut.
I don’t believe that reflects the full range of what people in Biddeford value.
The Biddeford we know today was built through steady, shared investment: restoring our clock tower, filling once-empty storefronts, creating opportunities for students, artists, and small businesses, and building a downtown that welcomes people from all walks of life.
None of that came from choosing one value over another. It came from holding multiple truths at once.
Our city councilors need to understand the full picture of what our community values now. If the only message they hear is “cut,” then that is what they will do (and they are considering 25 percent cuts for community organizations). Not because that’s all they believe, but because it’s what’s being voiced more often right now, while others may be hesitant to speak up.
Does the City Council know what you value? Have you spoken up at a council meeting or emailed them using this Contact All Councilors form?
Speaking up doesn’t guarantee a specific outcome. There will be trade-offs. But without a broader set of voices, we risk losing more than we realize.
So, I’ll ask the question: What kind of city do we want to be?
And I encourage you to make your answer known, clearly and while decisions are still being made.
JEROME SCANLON | My wife and I recently bought a home in downtown Biddeford due primarily to the type of community spirit fostered by Heart of Biddeford and similar groups that work constantly to establish and maintain a vibrant community spirit on a daily basis. We love events like Art Walk, Winterfest, Holiday Stroll, Restaurant Week, River Jam, Oktoberfest and others, which happen in part because of the constant and consistent efforts of these community organizations. Cutting or eliminating funding to these organizations is a terrible disservice to the residents and businesses of Biddeford.
I would like to add some context that I think has been missing from the community conversation about this story.
Learning about Guy Gagnon’s departure from the BHA left me feeling sad, and I think it’s important for all of us to remember that he has dedicated himself to the city of Biddeford for the past 15 years and has accomplished so much more than I – and many others — certainly thought possible.
I am disappointed that the Gazette was willing to speak with individuals whose identities remain a mystery. The only person who spoke on the record is Amy Clearwater, the current chair of the BHA’s board of directors.
GUY GAGNON | Biddeford Gazette File Photo
I have personally known the Gazette’s editor for more than 25 years, and I have to wonder why he made the decision to not identify others who apparently “confirmed” information.
I felt disappointed that the Gazette seemed to rush into reporting a story and it felt as if the editor “sensationalized” the situation before all the facts were known.
This article – including Ms. Clearwater’s concerns about confidentiality -contributed to the disparagement of a man who, instead, should be praised for his accomplishments.
Almost immediately after this article was published, I received a call from someone wanting to know what he [Gagnon] did wrong. Was it this, that, or the other? All guesses and rumors. All disparaging.
Although I am not privy to the details and do not think I should be, I am involved enough to know that there was no criminal activity involved. I think it is important that this be said as it seems that people jump to such conclusions when they read articles that are incomplete and lacking factual information.
In this case, the damage is done. Rumors are prevalent. People believe what they want to. C’est la vie.
Hopefully, you and your staff will take the time to publish a story listing his Guy Gagnon’s many accomplishments.
Before Guy came onboard, Biddeford Housing Authority did little more than manage the Section 8 program. Bob Dodge, then the city’s director of economic and community development, was assigned this task as an aside to all his other responsibilities.
Bob [Dodge] recommended Guy [Gagnon] for this position, knowing that he had the talent to bring the housing authority to life. Guy was successful and — as a result — Biddeford now has an amazing teen center in addition to numerous housing developments.
I think Mr. Gagon deserves to be thanked for his many contributions to the city of Biddeford, his hometown.
Vicky L. Edgerly
Note: Vicky Edgerly was previously the director of Health and Welfare for the city of Biddeford. Today, she resides in Florida.
It’s finally time to put away the snow shovels and grab the lawn rakes. But if you need a break from your spring-cleaning chores, we have some good news to share. The Spring Sports Season in Biddeford is about to kick into high gear.
Here is our weekly roundup of what’s happening in the world of local sports. If we missed something or if you would like to contribute your sports stories, schedules, stats or photos, please CONTACT US
__________
Roy Drives In Four to Lead Biddeford Tigers Past Kennebunk
By GameChanger
Madi Roy drove in four runs on two hits to lead Biddeford Tigers past Kennebunk 7-1 on Wednesday. In the fifth inning, Madi Roy doubled, scoring two runs.
BIDDEFORD ROLLS PAST KENNEBUNK | Photo by Karen Ramunno
Biddeford Tigers opened the scoring in the first after Rachel Lagasse singled, scoring one run.
Madi Roy earned the win for Biddeford Tigers. The right-handed pitcher allowed three hits and one run (zero earned) over seven innings, striking out six and walking three. Chloe Rousselle took the loss for Kennebunk. The starter went seven innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits, striking out four and walking one. Biddeford Tigers piled up 11 hits in the game. Madi Roy, Corinne Ramunno, and Amaya Carter each collected two hits for Biddeford Tigers. Biddeford Tigers turned two double plays in the game.
EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY | Photo by Karen Ramunno
Maggie Canniff, Mia McCarthy, and Evelyne Roper each collected one hit for Kennebunk. Kennebunk were sure-handed and didn’t commit a single error. Maggie Canniff made the most plays with six.
Biddeford Tigers welcome Windham on Friday for their next game.
BHS Boys Baseball Team opens season against Windham Friday
Last year, they took the Class A state title.
This year, the Biddeford Boys Baseball team will open their 2026 season against the Windham Eagles on Friday, April 24 at St. Louis Field in Biddeford.
Thanks to the help of some team supporters, you can find the season schedule below.
__________
Go, Biddeford!
Send us your team’s photos, stories, stats or schedules — and we’ll spread the word!!!
The University of New England Nor’Easters club lacrosse team was full of enthusiasm and high spirits during their warm-up stretches in the moments before their final game of the season Saturday against the St. Anslem Hawks.
But unfortunately, the Nor’Easters walked away with a disappointing 5-4 loss.
While a cold steady drizzle blanketed the field, the small band of UNE fans felt even more glum when the first quarter ended with St. Anslem leading, 3-0.
THE UNE NOR’EASTERS did not allow a cold, lingering drizzle to affect their spirit — just moments before the start of Saturday’s final game of the season against St. Anslem College. | Seaver photo
“We started well, and after letting in three goals in the first quarter, our defense only allowed two more goals the rest of the game,” said Head Coach Donald Vivian who is also senior assistant director of undergraduate admissions at UNE.
“Unfortunately, we struggled to find the net, but the group kept fighting until the end,” Vivian added. “A low-scoring game really speaks to a defensive battle with strong goalkeeping.”
Before the game started, five UNE seniors were recognized during a brief ceremony that allowed their parents onto the field to accept long-stemmed flowers from the pending graduates who would soon be playing their last game for UNE.
According to Vivian, those senior players were the ones who pushed for the creation of the club program, “leaving a lasting impact on campus.”
“They [the graduating seniors] took the chance and followed their interests and passions, which opened the door for other students down the road to do the same. I hope that the seniors will be proud in the future,” the coach said.
Jake Power was one of those seniors, and his parents — Joe and Gretchen Power — drove to Biddeford from Westford, Mass., just to watch their son play his final game at the University of New England.
POWER FAMILY | Gretchen Power (foreground) watches the pre-game warm up while her husband checks the stands behind them. A handful of hardy spectators braved the cold, wet weather to support the Nor’Easters’s. (Seaver)
“Not the best weather for a game,” Joe Power said with a grin. “But it’s good to be here, and there’s no place I’d rather be right now.”
Nick Welch, another Westford, Mass., resident, also joined the Power family to watch as his “good friend” Jake took the field.
The student volunteers in the broadcast booth also had a little fun on Saturday, reading off the names and future plans of each senior player.
When Jake Power was introduced, the booming voice over the speakers announced that after graduation — Power would soon be employed as a “technician for NASCAR motor racing.”
In fact, according to his family, Jake will actually be completing graduate work in marine entrepreneurship after earning his bachelor’s degree this year.
SUPPORTING THE PLAYERS | Club Sports Director Patty Williams (left) finalizes some last-minute details with student volunteers in the broadcast booth. | Seaver photo
According to Club Sports Director Patty Bohn Williams, UNE has 23 active club sports team, a number she described as “unique for a school this size.”
Saturday’s close loss may have been a heartbreaker, but as the shout that was heard loud and clear from the UNE bench just moments after the game started, “there’s no crying in lacrosse.”
There are several upcoming events happening this week to help celebrate Earth Day
By LOREN McCREADY | Biddeford-Saco Climate Action Team
From park cleanups and campus programming to a downtown litter pickup and a sustainability workshop, local events are scheduled from April 22 through April 28. The Biddeford-Saco Climate Action Team has compiled a full list of events to help residents find ways to get involved throughout the week.
Earth Day programming in Biddeford and Saco will stretch across nearly a full week this year. On Wednesday, April 22, the University of New England in Biddeford will hold an Earth Flag Raising from 8 to 8:30 a.m. at the Hazard Soccer Field flagpole, followed by Earth Fest from noon to 2 p.m. on Ripich Commons lawn, with games, crafts, trivia and other hands-on sustainability activities.
BIDDEFORD BEACH | Submitted Courtesy Photo
___________
Also on April 22, Biddeford Recreation and the city’s Public Works Parks Team will host their annual Earth Day Parks and Trails Cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will gather first at the J. Richard Martin Community Center before heading to park assignments for litter pickup and spring cleanup work.
Saco’s Seventh Annual Earth Day Celebration is scheduled for Friday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with volunteers assigned to sites including Diamond Riverside Park, Pepperell Park, Cascade Falls, Haley Park, Jubilee Park, Front Street Park, the Saco Community Center and other locations.
In Biddeford, the Sustainability Commission is also promoting an Earth Day event on Saturday, April 25, beginning at 10 a.m. in City Square Park across from City Hall, with a downtown cleanup and giveaways. Dyer Library in Saco will round out the week on Tuesday, April 28, with “YardScaping: From Lawns to Landscapes Workshop” from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Deering Room.
Want to get involved in environmental issues year-round? Join the Biddeford-Saco Climate Action Team and stay connected to local efforts happening throughout the year.
This week, we are busy planning for two upcoming events that are especially relevant to our mission of providing an “embedded-approach” to community journalism.
On Thursday, we will host our third quarterly meeting of our Community Advisory Council (CAC). We put this group together last year to set the Gazette apart when it comes to community news reporting.
How can you possibly cover community news without direct and regular feedback from the community?
Our CAC group has three new members, and they will be welcomed with light refreshments but a heavy agenda of discussion items.
Secondly, I will again be facilitating a broader community conversation about local journalism as part of the Biddeford Adult Education Department’s enrichment course offerings. Maybe you’d like to be part of that conversation?
I am finalizing materials for that class offering and will be conducting a brief community survey that will be used to both inform our CAC members and those who participate in our formalized community conversation.
Is it just talk?
You may have noticed that several weeks ago the Gazette adopted a new tagline, which includes the following statement: “Brace For Impact.”
What does that mean? From our perspective, it basically means that when you read the Biddeford Gazette you should be prepared to be impacted. Sometimes, the news will be difficult and troubling | Housing authority dismisses its executive director.
So, get ready . . . and brace for impact – – because we’re just getting started.
Reporting from the front lines
What is embedded journalism and what does that really mean?
We think it means that a community newspaper should be much different than its larger, daily counterparts.
When you work at a community newspaper – and you are personally embedded in that community – the job can be rewarding, tricky and challenging for you . . . and for your readers.
It’s likely that you will see the same people you are writing about at the grocery store or at a Saturday afternoon Little League game.
It means that your readers know you – maybe even where you live. They likely know your family. You sometimes feel pressure from your friends. You want to accommodate every request.
The Biddeford Gazette is the only professional news source embedded in the city of Biddeford.
Embedded journalists in Tehran offer their readers a unique perspective about the ongoing conflict in Iran that can’t be done from the relative safety of a newsroom in New York or Washington, D.C.
It is the same principle when it comes to much smaller and more focused community news coverage. We can offer our readers unmatched historical context and information from sources that we have cultivated over decades.
We pay the same taxes you pay. We drive on the same streets you use. Our children attended the same schools. We enjoy the same beaches and parks. That’s the benefit of embedded journalism.
A cold, miserable night on UNE’s campus
Another example of embedded community journalism: Several days ago, my friends and I were relaxing at Mulligan’s Tavern. I got talking with some student athletes from the University of New England.
They were so excited when I said the Gazette could cover some of their games. Some members of UNE’s Club Lacrosse Team followed up that conversation and called me, asking if I could please cover their last game of the season on Saturday.
I was tired and not feeling well on Saturday. The weather was cold and damp, but I dove to the campus and sat in the cold drizzle, covering the game. It was a promise I made. It was a promise I kept.
We’ll post the story later today.
Brace For Impact | | Biddeford’s Professional & Trusted News Source
Different tax rates — based on property values — may sound appealing, but it is not allowed by state law
Editor:
The city of Biddeford is currently in the time of the year affectionately known as ‘budget season.’
Hard decisions and complex discussions are the name of the game during this season. As I’ve sat on the dais during our deliberations and public comment periods, I have heard a suggestion come up that has been met with applause and support from the general public in the room. This notion has also been making the rounds on social media.
To paraphrase the statements, “Why does the city not tax different properties at different rates?”
The implication has been to charge a higher rate to higher value properties. While the reasoning behind such a practice and the implications of what it would mean for the city would certainly be a robust conversation, it is something that cannot enter into the budget discourse.
Why is that the case?
The Maine State Constitution. Article IX, Section 8, Taxation, to be exact.
To save folks all the time of searching through our State Constitution (though I would recommend that anyone engaging in political discourse in our state read it), I’ve quoted it here:
“All taxes upon real and personal estate, assessed by authority of this State, shall be apportioned and assessed equally according to the just value thereof.”
The key word in this section is equally.
The Maine State Constitution explicitly forbids variable property tax rates.
I think I can safely speak for my fellow city councilors in saying that we really appreciate and value public input and our citizens coming forward with their ideas and proposals on how to achieve a fair and balanced budget.
But it is also important to remember that we have to follow state laws when we’re putting together our municipal budget.
This is a piece that was first published in 2012 on my blog, All Along the Watchtower (Today known as Lessons in Mediocrity | Outlaw Journalist).
This story has a very sad ending, but it provides a detailed account of what happened to the former Lincoln Mill clocktower that once sat proudly atop the Lincoln Mill building, which is today known as The Lincoln, a luxury hotel that is also home to Batson Brewing and features a rooftop swimming pool.
The story about the clocktower’s demise goes back more than 25 years, to the beginning of this century.
Man, a lot has changed in the last 25 years.
ABANDONEDAND ROTTING | This 2012 photo shows the former clocktower shortly before its historic, metal innards were sold and the rest was scrapped. | Seaver photo
Can you hear me scream? was the title of the 2007 letter-to-the-editor that was never published. The letter was written in the voice of the discarded clocktower, but it was actually penned by Greg Bennett. I cannot remember why Greg never submitted the letter for publication. I think he was probably just too sad.
A Cry for Help
Bennett’s five-page, single-spaced, typewritten letter to the editor about the Lincoln Mill Clock Tower drips with irony, anger and sadness.
It tells the story of the Lincoln Mill Clock Tower’s removal and gutting. It chastises the community for not stepping up to save it. It ponders the injustice of the tower’s fate and paints a complicated portrait of apathy, political impotence and despair.
Bennett has some serious skin in this particular game. He and his business partner, Chris Betjemann, purchased the former Lincoln Mill building just days after its clock tower was removed from a perch that overlooks the city’s downtown.
STILL STANDING TALL | This photo was taken just days before the clocktower was removed from its historic perch. Through the late 1800s and early 1900s, Biddeford was known as the city of bells, because this tower and the nearby City Hall tower would ring simultaneously.
________________
Perhaps no one is more upset about the clock’s removal than these two men who agreed to pay more than a million dollars for the property and then spent several weeks in York County Superior Court and a lot more money fighting to prevent the clock tower’s dismantling.
“It made us sick,” Bennett recalled during a recent interview. “Too many people make assumptions about the tower. Too many people have no idea about what really happened or about what we intend to do with the clock tower’s remains.”
Betjemann, who unsuccessfully sought an at-large seat on the Biddeford City Council in November, says most people would be shocked if they “knew the truth” about the clock tower’s removal.
“I’ve had people accuse me of ruining the city’s skyline,” Betjemann said. “That’s so far from the truth that I don’t even know where to begin. We are the ones who want to put the tower back up. It would be easier and a lot less costly for us to just scrap the remains, but that’s not what we want to do.”
In fact, Bennett and Betjemann recently had a meeting with Mayor Alan Casavant to discuss the clock tower and their plans to restore the structure.
At the time, Bennett — a principal of Odyssey Properties — said he and Betjemann still had “big plans” for the five-story building they purchased nearly five years ago from Gordon McDonald and Michael Scott.
But Bennett also says it’s important for the community to understand a bit of local history in order to appreciate the new owners’ vision for the iconic downtown building.
For starters, most people don’t know that the clock tower was actually a transplant. The clock tower was originally placed atop another downtown building before it was moved to the Lincoln Mill building. The clock tower’s former home is today nothing more than a faded memory, long since gone from the city’s landscape.
More recently, in 2000, the building’s former owners announced that they needed to remove the clock tower because of “structural concerns and potential liability issues.”
_______________
News of the clocktower’s imminent departure sent an emotional shockwave through the community. A non-profit group was formed to “save the clocktower.
The Friends of the Clock Tower made several efforts to spur community support, hoping to raise money for the tower’s repair and preservation.
Disclosure notice: I served as vice president of Friends of the Clock Tower.
McDonald and Scott agreed to allow the new group some time to raise money. If the new group could raise the money, the building’s owners said they would sign a conservation easement that would guarantee the clock tower’s preservation for public access and historical appreciation.
For the next two years, the Friends of the Clock Tower attempted to raise the estimated $200,000 needed to make the repairs and needed improvements.
A FAILED ATTEMPT | Randy Seaver, then editor of the Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier, was also the vice president of Friends of the Clocktower, a non-profit group established in 2000 to save the Lincoln Mill clocktower. The group conducted a day-long telethon on the roof of City Hall, but all of their efforts failed, Donations raised were returned to donors and/or given to the Biddeford Historical Society.
_____________
The group held a series of meetings and established itself as a 501(c)3 corporation. A fundraising telethon was conducted and televised on the city’s public access television station from the rooftop of nearby Biddeford City Hall.
Rob Tillotson, principal of Oak Point Associates, volunteered his services to the group. Tillotson said the tower was structurally sound and only needed some minor repairs.
The building’s former owners, however, held their ground and continued expressing concerns about the tower’s condition and potential liability.
Recognizing that the building was private property, the Friends of the Clock Tower briefly considered purchasing a liability insurance policy but soon learned it would be a tricky proposition for a non-profit group to insure a piece of privately owned property.
So, the group continued its fundraising campaign and applied for state and federal historic preservation grants.
But the larger community seemed generally apathetic, and the Friends of the Clock Tower fell far short of its fundraising goal.The non-profit group was eventually disbanded, and the money raised was returned to donors with the balance given to the Biddeford Historical Society.
The community failed and the clock tower’s fate seemed doomed.
Eventually, what remained of the tired clocktower was moved to a nearby parking lot. There was talk about possibly restoring the framework and converting it into a memorial.
That never happened. The clocktower’s guts were sold. The rest of the structure was dismantled, scrapped.
CLOCKTOWER HEYDAY | This photo — on display at Biddeford City Hall — shows a view of the former Lincoln Mill, a 250,000-square-foot building that once produced textile products. Today, the clocktower has been removed and the downtown building has been converted into a luxury hotel with a rooftop swimming pool and a high-end cocktail lounge and distillery in the basement.
At the suggestion of former Biddeford Mayor Michael Cantara, current Mayor Liam LaFountain organized an early Arbor Day celebration on Wednesday at the J.R Martin Community Center, where some third-grade students helped plant a tree in the new playground area.
According to event witnesses, the students from Ms. Lecler’s class literally dug in to the project with full enthusiasm
.
“We didn’t have to move any dirt, these kids were all over it,” said Jake Pierson, the owner of Pierson Nurseries and a current city councilor.
Pierson Nurseries donated the Red Oak tree, and Councilor Pierson gave the students instructions and guidelines about how to plant and care for a young tree.
Though Arbor Day officially falls on April 24 this year, LaFountain said the event was scheduled early so that it would not conflict with this coming week’s school vacation.
Pierson noted that the Biddeford Public Works Department “pre-dug the hole ahead of time so the kids could focus on the planting safely.”
The Community Center is also the home of the Biddeford Recreation Department. Director Lisa Thompson and several members of her staff helped coordinate the event.
“Planting a tree is one of the best long-term investments a community can make,” LaFountain told the Gazette. “The shade, the cleaner air, the habitat it creates; all of it grows right alongside the kids who put it in the ground. This tree will be part of the Community Center’s new playground for generations.”
Michael Cantara served as Biddeford’s mayor from 1987 to 1989 before becoming York County District Attorney and then later appointed by Gov. John Baldacci to be a district court judge.
Cantara is now retired and lives at his Cherry Lane home in Biddeford.
LaFountain thanked the several city employees who helped coordinate the event.
“It was a real pleasure to work with Ms. Leclerc’s students, and see them take such pride in something their city and our residents will enjoy for years to come,” the mayor said.
Bob Mills — a former city councilor and York County treasurer who resigned both positions in April 2024, — lost his 2025 bid to return to his Ward Four council seat and is now again running to recapture his county treasurer seat and is also running to represent Ward 4 on the city’s Charter Review Commission.
Here, Mills offers Gazette readers his thoughts regarding local social service organizations and their city funding requests
__________
Editor:
I am not discounting any organization or member, at all.
We’ve had to tackle the social service budget and all the years I was on the city council, and it’s always been a struggle on who to fund and who not to fund.
So, just to put a little reasoning in your thought process while in this budget session.
We are not dealing with free money. This is the taxpayers money.
Many taxpayers don’t want money going to some of these organizations so I think that’s often left out in the thought process. It’s no different than getting a fundraiser email or something in the mail you could choose to donate to it or not.
So, asking for $4 million plus in a budget for social service funding is totally unreasonable. It doesn’t matter what organization that you stand for or you believe in not everyone believes in it so taxpayers money as a whole shouldn’t be used to fund the budget of social service agencies.
People can choose to donate individually to these organizations. One of the things I struggled with as a city counselor was funding organizations where the executive Director was making millions of dollars and pay when they were asking for donations to our social service fund. I want to stress to everyone that taxpayers money should be used discreetly and responsibly for funding our services such as police fire and roads, there are our upmost importance in any community.
The company is also planning to upgrade two of its other locations in Maine and says the renovation will provide significant economic impact and provide numerous community benefits
[ Contributed story via Walmart ]
According to a corporate press release, Walmart plans to remodel three stores in Maine this year, including its Biddeford location on Boulder Way.
According to a company spokesperson, Walmart is “expanding its assortment of healthy foods, affordable on-trend items and enhancing the in-store and online experience.”
The retailer says it has invested more than $84 million statewide over the past five years to upgrade its stores across the state of Maine. Beyond the Biddeford store, Walmart is also planning to upgrade its store locations in Falmouth and Auburn.
EXCITING CHANGES AHEAD | Contributed photo
The company says that three remodel projects represent “ongoing efforts to modernize the in-store and digital shopping experience—upgrading layouts, technology, and services to offer faster, more convenient shopping and delivery in as little as an hour to most customers.”
These efforts, a spokesperson said, reflect Walmart’s commitment to supporting economic growth and strengthening communities statewide.
The company says that its new and remodeled stores will offer expanded customer services, such as free Pharmacy delivery for Walmart + members, including on GLP-1s – and a store-based app experience that helps customers easily navigate through the stores, book services at Walmart’s Auto Care Center, and more.
“The result is a more intuitive, convenient experience that helps customers shop how they want, when they want,” reads the press release sent to the Biddeford Gazette.
According to the company, Walmart is planning remodels at more than 650 Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets across the nation this year.
“Our stores have long been part of communities across Maine, and we’re excited to keep investing in their future,” said Annie Walker, Senior Vice President, East Business Unit at Walmart. “By modernizing our stores, we’re making shopping faster, easier, and more convenient, all while empowering our teams to serve customers better and creating local opportunity. We’re proud of our legacy here and look forward to helping families save money, time and live better every day.”
“Our stores have long been part of communities across Maine, and we’re excited to keep investing in their future.”
— Annie Walker, Senior Vice President
The company says that every new store or remodel “brings real benefits to the community — from construction jobs to long-term careers in retail, pharmacy and store leadership. Customers will notice the difference, too, with elevated brands like De’Longhi, Oura, Jessica Simpson, and Lemme, and interactive displays that make it easier to picture how products look in their homes.”
According to a company spokesperson, Walmart’s impact extends well beyond its stores and into its communities. In Maine over the past year, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation donated more than $14 million to local nonprofits, including providing more than 7 million pounds of food to help fight hunger.
ABOUT WALMART | Walmart Inc. (Nasdaq: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 280 million customers and members visit more than 10,900 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2026 revenue of $713 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart.
Guy Gagnon – the longtime executive director of the Biddeford Housing Authority – has been placed on administrative leave and is no longer working for the non-profit agency, according to multiple sources.
Amy Clearwater, chair of the BHA’s board of directors, confirmed that Gagnon was relieved of his duties earlier this week.
GUY GAGNON — Former executive director of the Biddeford Housing Authority (File Photo)
Clearwater said she was unable to provide or confirm further details because the matter is a “pending personnel matter.”
The decision to remove Gagnon from his role as executive director was unanimously approved by all six members of the housing authority’s board of directors, according to multiple anonymous sources.
The Gazette reached out to Mr. Gagnon for comment on this story. He contacted us only minutes after the story was first posted and declined to comment.
Clearwater said the BHA is continuing to function and that none of its pending or managed projects should be impacted by the board’s recent decision.
During a brief telephone interview, Clearwater said she is not in a position to offer any more details at this time.
Gagnon, 63, is a well-known and lifelong Biddeford resident and a longtime champion of creating affordable housing options in his hometown.
According to Clearwater, Gagnon has worked at the housing authority since 2010.
The Biddeford Housing Authority is quasi-government agency that serves several communities and receives funding from several sources, including federal and state funds.
This story will be updated as more details become available.
UPDATE | This story has been updated to include the following information: Mr. Gagnon called us just as the story was being finalized. He declined to comment.
BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 