NEWSLETTER | Call and Answer – BIDDEFORD GAZETTE

Another dynamic week has provided us with several examples of how Biddeford is a city closely connected by a fabric of people who are always ready to step up and answer the call for service to their community

(*Photo by Julie Villemaire. Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club*)

When a Hazel Street family was displaced by a fire in April, City Councilor Abigail Woods took it upon herself to lead a fundraising effort to help the family recover from a staggering loss. City councilor steps up to help fire victims

It should be noted that Hazel Street is not part of the Ward Two neighborhood that Woods represents on the city council.

The Gazette formally welcomed Tammy Belanger to our team this week as a regular local government columnist. Tammy is an outstanding writer and has a deep passion for the city of Biddeford. Her columns provide constructive criticism with equal doses of analysis and ideas for improvement. Find her latest column here We need more people digging in for Biddeford.

One of our favorite stories this week centered upon the deepening relationship between American Legion Post 26 and fourth graders at Biddeford Intermediate School.

Every year, fourth graders join with local veterans and community volunteers to place more than 2,500 small American flags at the site of every veteran laid to rest at St. Joseph cemetery.

According to organizers, the students were enthusiastic, worked hard and seemed to intuitively understand the sacrifice of those who stepped up and answered the call of their nation. Find the full story here Lessons in Honor | Biddeford students get interactive lesson about Memorial Day.

If you’re feeling a bit discouraged about global affairs or the national economy, we found a good reason this week to feel a bit of optimism about our community’s future.

Our story about the 8^th annual Student Leadership Summit reveals that our community’s young people are ready to engage, work hard and offer ideas about how to improve the world around them.

The annual summit – featuring students from 13 area middle schools – is made possible by the University of New England’s Department of Education.

More information about this year’s Student Leadership Summit can be found here Middle School students gather for 8^th annual summit at UNE

In just a few hours, we will be publishing another story about the contributions being made by our city’s students.

Our exclusive story about a small group of Biddeford High School art students and the legacy they want to leave behind will be posted this evening (Sunday, May 24).

Last week, we told you that the Biddeford Gazette is undergoing some significant changes.

The Gazette is continuing to grow, finding its stride and we’re almost ready to launch a new initiative that we call Project Reciprocity.

What is Project Reciprocity? Essentially, it is an opportunity for us to more deeply connect to the community we serve – the city of Biddeford.

Project Reciprocity is about forging new relationships, collaborative reporting and enhanced community engagement.

If all goes as planned, we are hoping to Launch Project Reciprocity on June 1. At that point, we will be sharing specific details about the initiative, its purpose and its goals.

On a final note, later this week we will be announcing the addition of a new member of our Community Advisory Council, a woman with deep ties to the Biddeford community and years of experience in journalism.

Pretty good week, eh?

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE INFORMATION

Once again, the Heart of Biddeford is coordinating this year’s annual Biddeford-Saco Memorial Day Parade and honor ceremony.

For more information, please go here | Heart of Biddeford / Memorial Day

As always, thank you for reading!

THIS WEEK’S THEME SONG