It’s all about the smiles: UNE and Rep. Fecteau both focus on Maine kids

February 6, 2026February 7, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

UNE dental students again provided free care to local students; Rep. Ryan Fecteau introduced a bill to expand dental coverage for Maine children.

Contributed stories

Students from the University of New England’s College of Dental Medicine and Department of Dental Hygiene welcomed 85 elementary students from Old Orchard Beach to the university’s Oral Health Center on Friday, Feb. 6, for UNE’s fifth annual “Give Kids a Smile” event.

According to organizers, the Old Orchard Beach students received a full slate of preventive dental services at no cost, including cleanings, fluoride treatments, protective sealants, and oral health education.

Students from the University of New England’s dental school provided cleaning and other dental services to 85 Old Orchard Beach elementary school students. This is the fifth year that UNE has participated in the annual cleaning Give Kids A Smile event. (Contributed photo)

The services were delivered by UNE dental medicine and dental hygiene students working together in clinical teams. Each child also received a take-home oral care kit with a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and educational materials to support healthy habits beyond the visit.

The one-day event provided more than $14,000 in free dental care, helping remove barriers to access while introducing families to ongoing resources available through UNE’s Oral Health Center, located on UNE’s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences — the only fully integrated health sciences campus of its kind in New England.

“Untreated dental disease can lead to severe pain that impacts a child’s ability to eat and drink properly, disrupts their sleep patterns, affects their concentration, and contributes to changes in behavior,” said Nicole Kimmes, D.D.S., dean of the UNE College of Dental Medicine. “By hosting events like Give Kids a Smile, we improve access and education for the children of Maine and decrease the number impacted by these conditions right in our home communities.”

The now-annual event is part of a national Give Kids a Smile initiative coordinated by the American Dental Association, during which dentists and dental students across the country provide care to underserved children.

At UNE, the program has grown steadily since its launch in 2020 and continues to reflect the University’s commitment to improving community health while preparing future providers through hands-on, team-based learning.

“This experience, with dental hygiene and dental students working together to deliver care to children, enhances communication and delivers more comprehensive oral health education to the children coming to visit the OHC today,” said Dianne Smallidge, RDH, Ed.D., director of the undergraduate Department of Dental Hygiene at UNE.

Alexander Dyke, a UNE student who is scheduled to graduate later this year, is planning to pursue a pediatric residency. He said events like Give Kids a Smile benefit both families and students.

“The work we’re doing today is extremely important in providing underserved populations get the care they otherwise wouldn’t have,” Dyke said. “It also means that I get experience, and it means other students get experience. “We get to work with faculty and see their input on the type of ways they would go about doing that — it broadens my horizons and increases the tools in my toolbox.”

Fecteau introduces bill to expand access to dental care

Earlier this week, State Rep. Ryan Fecteau (D-Biddeford) introduced a bill to improve dental access care for children.

Fecteau’s bill – LD 2123 — seeks to modify the MaineCare Reimbursement Methodology for the provision of anesthesia for certain dental services.

Fecteau – who is currently serving as Speaker of the House – says his bill will hopefully address a growing backlog of children awaiting care for dental issues.

The legislation proposes a targeted increase to MaineCare reimbursement rates for anesthesia services provided to children at ambulatory surgery centers treating at least 50 percent for MaineCare patients. As a result, Fecteau said these centers will be able to continue their operations, increase capacity, and reduce wait times.

“Access to care is critical. Too many Maine children are suffering with tooth pain because of the limited options for care,” Fecteau said. “This bill is a key step that will help ease just a little bit of that suffering and make it more feasible for other ambulatory surgery centers to expand services for MaineCare patients.”

According to Fecteau, many children receiving MaineCare lack a “dental home,” meaning they do not have a dentist they see regularly for cleanings and other preventative care. Without this routine maintenance, curable issues – things like cavities – turn into surgical events, with long waits for care.

“No child should have to suffer in pain because of their insurance status when treatment is available,” said Becca Matusovich, Executive Director of the Children’s Oral Health Network of Maine. “LD 2123 is one important element of a comprehensive strategy to address dental disease among Maine children who have been unable to access dental care.”

The Health and Human Services Committee is scheduled to consider Fecteau’s bill in the coming weeks.

Note: This story was updated with a correction: The UNE event in Portland took place on Friday, Feb. 6, not Thursday. We apologize for the error.

_____________

Alan Bennett, Assistant Director of Communications at the University of New England, contributed to this story

Never miss an update! Subscribe for free today!

How Biddeford is using its opioid settlement funds

February 6, 2026February 6, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

The Biddeford City Council received an update Tuesday regarding how the city’s local allocation of Opioid Settlement funds has been used over the last year.

The funds come from several class action lawsuits that were filed against opioid manufacturers and distributors roughly 10 years ago.

*Jake Hammer, Biddeford’s General Assistance supervisor, gave the Biddeford City Council a presentation Tuesday about how the city is using its portion of the Opioid Settlement Funds.*

The defendants – including Johnson & Johnson, Walmart, Walgreens and CVS –reached a $56 billion settlement with those states, counties and municipalities that filed suit against them. The funds can only be used to provide for treatment and other services directly linked to opioid use.

Opioids — more commonly known as “painkillers” — are often prescribed to treat severe pain. They can be highly addictive and addiction causes consequences for communities in terms of crime, economic instability and fractured interpersonal relationships.

Examples of opioids include Oxycontin, Fentanyl and Demerol.

According to reporting by Emily Bader from The Maine Monitor, Maine communities and counties have received roughly $20.3 million from the $66.4 million they’re set to receive by 2038.

The money, Bader reports, “has been used for a wide range of initiatives, from grants to community organizations providing recovery services to scholarships for residential treatment beds.”

Biddeford’s General Assistance Supervisor — Jake Hammer – provided the council with an annual overview of how the city has been handing its portion of the funds allocated to Maine communities.

According to Hammer, the funds began flowing in 2022 and are scheduled to continue through 2038.

Hammer told the council that at least 70 to 85 percent of the funds must be used for future opioid remediation, including treatment, harm reduction, prevention, and recovery services.

In September 2024, the city council adopted an ordinance to track and report how the city’s share of Opioid Settlement Fund (OSF) is being used.

A little more than a year ago, the city council approved an OSF Strategic Action Plan, Hammer said. That plan includes Strategic Goals and measurement criteria, which are required by the Maine Attorney General’s office, as spelled out by state law.

Hammer told the council that the city now has six recovery residences — total of 95 beds –available for those struggling with opioid addiction. Roughly 83 percent of the city’s allocation last year was used to support those residential facilities.

The city received roughly $378,039 during the last calendar year as its annual allocation of funds.

Hammer also supplied the council with some demographic information about the 58 people who have requested addiction treatment during the past year.

The bulk of those requesting or applying for services were white men (44), Hammer said. 18 individuals identified as having a physical or mental disability; and 14 applicants were employed when seeking services.

Councilor Dylan Doughty asked if the city could use some of its allocation for further public outreach about treatment options in the city.

“That is absolutely something we can do,” Hammer responded.

Note: To view or download a copy of Hammer’s presentation: OPIOID SETTLEMENT | Biddeford

_____________________

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

You may view and learn more about our editorial standards and policies here:

Biddeford Gazette | Standards & Policies

Never miss an update! Subscribe for free today!

OPINION: Those were the days . . .

February 5, 2026March 7, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

How do you know you’ve been covering Biddeford news for a long, long time?

I have covered the city’s annual WinterFest celebration since — well – since before it was called WinterFest.

Biddeford’s annual downtown winter celebration was the brainchild of newly elected Mayor Alan Casavant in 2012.

Casavant — who was also serving as a state representative back then –had attended a community dog-sledding event and celebration in Fort Kent.

“I was really impressed by the community turnout,” the former mayor said during a recent interview. “It wasn’t just dog-sledding and races, they had lots of different activities. It really brought people together.”

Casavant returned home full of optimism and ideas about how Biddeford could do something similar.

Let her rip! Former mayor Alan Casavant tackles the man-made sledding hill on Adam’s Street during the very first WinterFest celebration in February 2012. The annual festival was then known as L Fete d’ Hiver

The city was in the early stages of a downtown renaissance, and Casavant was eager to draw people back to the downtown area — even though MERC was still burning garbage roughly 1,200 feet away from the first man-made sledding hill on Adams Street and the fact that there were then fewer than 438 places in downtown Biddeford to get gourmet coffee, craft beers and specialty pizzas.

Casavant enlisted the help of resident John Maxson who jumped into the project with both feet and a smile that never faded until his passing several years ago. Maxson’s memory and community service is enshrined by a bronze plaque that was placed on the outside wall of City Hall near Adams Street.

Originally, the celebration was called La Fete d’ Hiver, a nod to the city’s then dominant Franco-American heritage.

The first festival exceeded expectations for community turnout, and the weekend celebration was later expanded and became more popular with each passing year and a growing base of volunteers.

But by the third year, the name La Fete’ d’ Hiver was dropped and replaced with a more inclusive moniker: WinterFest, much easier for most of us to pronounce and spell.

Look, my family attended Mass at St. Mary’s, not St. Andre’s or St. Joseph’s.

When my parents bought their first home in Saco, I served as an altar boy at Most Holy Trinity, not Notre Dame.

I graduated from Thornton Academy, not St. Louis High School.

I knew just enough French to get in trouble and flirt with local girls. Et, pourquoi pas?

I’m not trying to position myself as the defender of Biddeford’s Franco-American heritage. Growing up in Saco, we made jokes about French people.

*Laura and I were getting our groove on during the city’s first WinterFest celebration in 2012*

It should also be noted that Biddeford’s cultural roots are not just pure-bred French Canadian. Our community was also built by immigrant factory workers who came here from Ireland, Greece, Albania and numerous other countries, including Syria, Russia and Italy.

When it comes to cultural diversity, Biddeford pretty much knocks it out of the park.

But I do feel sad and a bit troubled by the gentrification now taking place in my community.

What’s next? Are we going to rename the city’s annual La Kermesse celebration as SummerFest?

I think the Lincoln Hotel lobby is fantastic and a wonderful place to meet friends. I enjoy hanging out at Element’s and drinking really good beer at Sacred Profane.

__________________

But I do feel sad and a bit troubled

by the gentrification now taking place

in my community.

_________________

But like many other people, I do so sometimes wax nostalgic about getting new school clothes at Butler’s, eating at the Woolworth’s lunch counter or browsing the vast collection of records at Murphy’s Music.

The once vibrant shoe factory on State Street is now an apartment complex. You no longer get your local groceries at Sevigny’s Market and charge your purchases to your weekly slip.

You blissfully ignored whatever it was that would periodically spew forth directly into the river from the Saco Tannery.

*There will be many activities for adults and children throughout the weekend, but the downtown sledding hill remains as a favorite among area children. (Photo by Devin Wright)*

There was no Home Depot. You went to McKenney & Heard Hardware on Main Street, You got your prescriptions at Doyon’s Pharmacy not Wal-Mart.

If you lived in Biddeford, your furniture came from Warren’s. If you lived in Saco, you probably bought your new dining set at Atkinson’s.

With each passing day, it is getting harder and harder for longtime residents to keep pace with soaring rental costs and restaurants that now cater to a younger, more affluent clientele.

People tell me all the time that they miss print newspapers like the Journal Tribune or the Biddeford-Saco Courier.

I shrug and say, “Oh well. Times change. Now you have the Biddeford Gazette and Saco Bay News.”

Change is the only constant . . . that and the joy that can be found in community events like WinterFest. Enjoy!

For more information about this weekend’s events, please visit: WINTERFEST | 2026

_______________________

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

You may view and learn more about our editorial standards and policies here:

Biddeford Gazette | Standards & Policies

Never miss an update! Subscribe for free today!

Biddeford city manager: Cheering for the Seahawks on Sunday?

February 4, 2026February 4, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

Nearly 128 million people are expected to watch Sunday’s Superbowl Championship game between the 17-3 New England Patriots and the 16-3 Seattle Seahawks.

One of those people who will be watching the Superbowl LX game on television is Biddeford’s relatively new city manager Truc Dever.

Dever relocated to Biddeford last summer from her home in Kirkland, Wash., a Seattle suburb where she served as that city’s public works director.

When asked Wednesday about which team she would be rooting for, Dever took in a deep breath and paused before offering her reply.

“I’m probably going to get in a lot of trouble for saying this, but I’ll be cheering for the Seahawks,” she admitted.

*Biddeford City Manager Truc Dever (File Photo)*

When asked to predict the game’s outcome, Dever laughed: “I’m probably in enough trouble already.”

Dever was previously asked a similar question last year, when she was interviewed by Biddeford Gazette reporter Jim Krause.

Dever said she is looking forward to watching the game, cheering for Seattle from deep in the heart of Patriots’ territory.

“I’ll likely be texting with some of my former coworkers throughout the game,” she said. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Apparently, there are some things that still bring people together.

Ben Affleck fans from both coasts are looking forward to the actor’s much-anticipated Dunkin’ Donuts commercial during Sunday’s game.

Note: Biddeford resident Paul Burgess inspired this story. Moreover, Burgess predicted the Seahawks will trounce New England, 35-7.

___________________

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

You may view and learn more about our editorial standards and policies here:

Biddeford Gazette | Standards & Policies

Never miss an update! Subscribe for free today!

Council debates controversial parking plan

February 4, 2026February 4, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

The Biddeford City Council finally got the chance Tuesday to discuss a controversial parking plan that has raised questions and eyebrows about city spending procedures.

One councilor described the project as a significant breach of city procedures, but another councilor described the $20,000 project as “small potatoes,” when compared to other issues facing the city.

*The Biddeford City Council took up several issues Tuesday night, including discussion about a controversial parking program that was launched last year (Seaver photo)*

The temporary parking plan is no longer in place. It was designed to help struggling downtown businesses by providing them and their employees free parking during a major sewer construction project last year in the downtown area.

The city spent roughly $20,000 over a five-month period to fund the program. It was designed to be “net neutral,” transferring money from an account the city uses for subsidizing bi-annual payments to the company that operates the Pearl Street parking garage.

Councilor Brad Cote blasted the program and the city’s former mayor, saying he was outraged about how it was funded and implemented.

“This was done without the approval or knowledge of the Finance Committee or the city council,” Cote said. “This was a one-man show, and it was shooting from the hip. I think it’s awful and insulting to taxpayers.”

In December, Mayor Liam LaFountain – the former council president and chair of the finance committee — said he was flabbergasted when he first learned about the program months after it had been launched.

LaFountain then asked City Attorney Harry Center to investigate the issue. In his Jan. 3 memo to the mayor and city council, Center raised concerns about the program’s “process.”

But Councilor Jake Pierson said the issue is relatively benign.

“I think we’re making a mountain out of a molehill here,” Pierson said. “I guess I don’t understand the outrage. I see this as a waste of our energy and city resources.

“When we look at all the other issues facing the city, I see this as small potatoes,” Pierson added.

Councilor Marc Lessard – an outspoken critic of former mayor Marty Grohman – said his concerns were rooted in the process used behind the program’s funding.

“It was incorrectly done,” Lessard said, pointing out that the former mayor “lobbied hard” last year for a 35 percent increase to the Heart of Biddeford’s annual funding request.

The Heart of Biddeford – a non-profit downtown booster organization – coordinated the parking program, providing outreach and information to downtown businesses.

“This is yet just another example of mismanagement,” Lessard said. “It was swept under the rug, and it should have never happened.”

In order to reconcile the city’s accounting ledgers and prepare for future financial audits, the council voted 7-1 (Cote) to retroactively approve the project and redirect the expenditures from a different account in the city’s budget.

_______________

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

You may view and learn more about our editorial standards and policies here: Biddeford Gazette | Standards & Policies

Never miss an update! Subscribe for free today!

OPINION: Supporting our municipal workforce; how AI can help cities serve better

February 3, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 3 Comments

By MARTY GROHMAN, Special to the Gazette

Our municipal employees are the backbone of our communities. They plow our streets at three in the morning during snowstorms. They respond to service requests, maintain our infrastructure, and keep our cities running smoothly day after day. These dedicated public servants often work with limited resources, facing growing demands while dealing with staffing constraints and aging technology systems.

We owe it to them to provide every tool that can make their jobs easier, safer, and more effective. Artificial intelligence isn’t about replacing these hardworking people—it’s about giving them support so they can focus on what matters most: serving our residents.

Starting Small: Meeting Minutes and Administrative Tasks

The simplest place to start is often the most impactful. Consider the countless hours municipal employees spend transcribing meeting minutes, summarizing discussions, and producing reports. In Gray, Maine, Communications and IT Director Kyle Hadyniak has embraced this exact opportunity.

Gray uses Microsoft Copilot to create meeting recaps of Town Council sessions much faster than manual transcription would allow, with the AI automatically generating timestamps and natural language summaries that help Hadyniak turn around news articles in just an hour or two. This means residents get information about their local government faster, and it means one less tedious task weighing down a small municipal staff.

Gray adopted a formal AI policy in the summer of 2025 that requires staff training before receiving access to AI tools and emphasizes that AI outputs must be treated as draft material requiring human review. This responsible approach recognizes that technology should augment human judgment, not replace it.

The impact goes beyond time savings. When communications staff can produce meeting summaries quickly, they have more time for community engagement, answering resident questions, and improving accessibility. Hadyniak noted that small municipalities in Maine with fewer than ten full-time staff members would particularly benefit from AI tools to handle smaller administrative tasks.

Making Our Streets Safer and More Efficient

Syracuse, New York, demonstrates how municipalities can use technology to enhance essential services while maintaining transparency and community oversight.

For snow removal operations—a critical service in upstate New York—Syracuse’s Department of Public Works has implemented GPS fleet tracking and AI cameras on trucks. These systems don’t just monitor employees; they protect them. Cameras provide visual documentation of road conditions and can help verify crew safety and accountability. Real-time GPS tracking allows operations superintendents to optimize routes, respond to service requests more effectively, and ensure no streets get missed during storms.

Think about the worker driving a plow truck for twelve hours straight during a blizzard. That technology means their supervisor knows where they are, can send help if needed, and can verify their route is safe and efficient. It means fewer callbacks to streets that were already plowed and better coordination across the entire fleet.

Looking Forward: Smarter Services, Better Communities

The next generation of municipal AI applications will transform how cities deliver services:

Route Optimization for Waste Collection: AI can analyze traffic patterns, construction zones, and historical data to create more efficient garbage and recycling routes. Drivers spend less time in traffic, trucks use less fuel, and residents get more consistent service.

Predictive Infrastructure Maintenance: Machine learning can identify patterns in service requests and sensor data to predict when a water main might fail or when a road needs repaving—before it becomes an emergency. This helps cities budget more effectively and prevents those frustrating situations where the same street gets dug up multiple times.

Intelligent Website Navigation: Many municipal websites are difficult to navigate, especially for residents who aren’t familiar with government terminology. AI-powered search and chatbots can help residents find the right form, understand a regulation, or get connected to the correct department without spending hours clicking through menus or waiting on hold.

Smart Permitting Systems: AI can review permit applications for completeness, flag common errors, and route them to the appropriate reviewers automatically. This speeds up processing times for residents and businesses while freeing up permit staff to handle complex cases that need human expertise.

A Commitment to Our Employees

Our municipal employees didn’t sign up for endless paperwork and administrative burden. They chose public service to make a difference in their communities. We need to innovate to keep our taxes down, and every minute we can give back to our hardworking employees through smart automation is a minute they can spend on more meaningful work—and providing the personal touch that no algorithm can replicate.

As we move forward, the question shouldn’t be whether to embrace AI in municipal operations, but how to implement it responsibly in service of the dedicated people who serve our communities every day. They’ve earned our support, and technology is one more way we can show we value their contributions.

The future of municipal service isn’t about choosing between people and technology—it’s about using technology to empower people to do their best work. Our employees deserve nothing less.

_____________________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Marty Grohman of Biddeford is a former Maine State representative and former mayor. He has served as the Executive Director of E2Tech, a clean energy trade association, and built a successful manufacturing business in southern Maine.

Never miss an update! Subscribe for free today!

Firefighters tackle blaze at Sleepy Hollow motel in Biddeford

February 3, 2026February 3, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Firefighters from several communities are now on scene at the former Sleepy Hollow Motel on Elm Street in Biddeford. A structure fire was reported shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday.

One firefighter was removed from the scene by an ambulance from the Goodwins Mills fire department. It is unclear why the firefighter was taken from the scene.

Elm Street traffic near the Hannaford grocery store is closed to traffic in both directions.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

_________________

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

Never miss an update! Subscribe for free today!

BREAKING NEWS: IRS will waive $700K in penalties against Biddeford; city assessor taking new job

February 3, 2026February 3, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

City officials in Biddeford are breathing a sigh of relief today after learning that the IRS will be waiving more than $500,000 in fees and penalties that were levied against the city two years ago.

Furthermore, City Manager Truc Dever says the IRS will also refund roughly $200,000 that the city already paid in penalties that resulted from the city’s failure to file employee health insurance forms with the IRS in 2021.

The Biddeford Gazette first published information about the IRS penalties in March 2025,

“This is really great news,” Dever told the Gazette earlier today.

According to Dever, much of the credit for getting the fines removed were the result “of some very hard work” by staffers in U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’s regional office in Biddeford.

“Both Pam Buck and Andrea Sarris in Senator Collins office worked closely with the city of several months to help us resolve this issue,” Dever said.

Assessor leaving

The Gazette also learned today that City Assessor Deanne Vail has accepted a new job in the town of Scarborough.

Vail will remain at her current job in Biddeford until Feb. 26, according to the city manager

These reports will be updated as new information becomes available,

______________

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!

King being challenged by independent in sheriff’s race

February 2, 2026February 2, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

Brian Pellerin — deputy chief of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s office — recently announced that he is running for York County Sheriff in the November 2026 election.

“I am running as a principled independent candidate, committed to professional, nonpartisan leadership in public safety,” Pellerin wrote in a press release that was sent to several media outlets in southern Maine.

The York County Sheriff’s Office operates the York County Jail and provides law enforcement to 14 rural towns without police departments. The Sheriff’s Office also provides contract deputies to several municipalities within the county and maintains a civil process division.

According to the Maine Secretary of State’s office, incumbent Sheriff William King – a Democrat –will be seeking a fourth, four-year term. First elected sheriff in 2014, King – a Saco resident — began working at the Sheriff’s Office in 2010.

During the last year, King has found himself embroiled in some controversy, including media reports about jail employees allegedly accepting bribes from inmates.

King did not return the Gazette’s request for comment on Monday.

For his part, Pellerin says he is running as an independent candidate because the sheriff’s office “must remain above partisan politics.”

As of Monday, no Republican candidate has yet filed the required candidacy paperwork for the York County sheriff’s position.

Pellerin says the job requires accountability, transparency and a clear focus on putting people over politics.

“I have more than 30 years of law enforcement experience at the local, county, state, and federal levels,” Pellerin wrote in his press release. “I currently serve as Chief Deputy of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, a nationally accredited agency serving more than 300,000 residents.”

Pellerin – a Saco native – today lives in Dayton, where he has resided for more than 20 years and served as a community volunteer, coach and civic leader.

Pellerin previously spent more than two decades as a federal special agent with the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General, conducting complex investigations and protective operations both domestically and internationally, according to his press release.

“The Sheriff’s Office exists for no other reason than to serve and protect the people of York County,” Pellerin said. “In the coming weeks and months ahead, I look forward to earning the trust of voters and building a Sheriff’s Office that sets the standards for professionalism, accountability and service.”

_________________

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

Never miss an update! Subscribe for free today!

Biddeford students headed to York County spelling bee

February 2, 2026February 10, 2026 ~ Karen Garnett ~ Leave a comment

By KAREN GARNETT, Contributing Writer

Students from Biddeford and Saco schools showcased their spelling skills last month during their respective school Spelling Bees, earning top honors and advancing to the York County Spelling Bee on February 9, 2026, at Saco Middle School. Due to limited space, the event is not open to the public.

*Biddeford Middle School’s Spelling Bee Champion Ronan Lunianski and Runner-up Jordan Souliere. will be heading to the York County Spelling Bee (Contributed photo)*

At CK Burns School, fifth-grade students Sage Daicy claimed the championship by correctly spelling gleaned, while Peter Galasyn earned the runner-up position and Calie Thayer placed third. At Saco Middle School, sixth-grader Toran King-Riggs secured the championship in round ten by correctly spelling Frankenstein, while sixth-grader Marko Marjanovic earned runner-up, and eighth-grader Layla Goodrich placed third. At Biddeford Middle School, seventh-grader Ronan Lunianski was named School Champion by correctly spelling equestrian, with sixth-grader Jordan Souliere earning the runner-up position.

The York County Spelling Bee brings together top spellers from schools across the region for a rigorous, multi-round competition that challenges students’ vocabulary, composure, and perseverance. Participants advance by correctly spelling increasingly complex words, with judges and an official pronouncer guiding each round. The event celebrates academic achievement while encouraging confidence, focus, and a love of language.

“In past years, I’ve had the chance to watch students compete, and what stands out most is their courage,” said Jeremy Ray, Superintendent of Biddeford and Saco Schools. “Standing up in front of your peers, trusting your instincts, and pushing through pressure takes real grit. Whether they placed first or simply took the microphone and gave it their best, every one of these students made their school communities proud, and we wish them the best of luck at the York County Spelling Bee.”

The Biddeford and Saco School Departments congratulate all Spelling Bee participants for their preparation, perseverance, and outstanding sportsmanship, and wish their advancing students the best of luck at the York County Spelling Bee.

_______________

Karen Garnett is Director of Communications for Biddeford, Saco and Dayton schools.

She can be reached at kgarnett@biddefordschools.me

Never miss an update! Subscribe for free today!

NEWSLETTER: Help us with a tagline, score some goodies from Reilly’s Bakery

January 31, 2026February 1, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 10 Comments

According to blogger Mat Zucker, it is becoming more and more important for news outlets to have a pithy, clever tagline that differentiates them from an overflowing pot of news sources and media sites.

“The motto of a news organization is more than just marketing,” Zucker writes. “It’s a declaration of journalistic purpose. These short phrases encapsulate an outlet’s mission, values, and unique approach to reporting.”

Help the Gazette create a tagline, get a gift certificate to Reilly’s Bakery *File photo*

As the Biddeford Gazette begins its second year, I’m asking our readers for suggestions and ideas about a possible tagline for our humble, hyper-local organization.

To get your creative juices flowing, here are a couple of ideas that have been rattling around in my mind.

We could co-opt the New York Times famous tagline: “All the news that’s fit to print,” how about this?

The Biddeford Gazette — All the Biddeford news that’s fit to publish on the internet.

Or maybe we could bend this oft-mentioned piece of writing advice:

Biddeford Gazette — An economy of words; a wealth of Biddeford information

One of my favorite potential taglines came to me last year while talking with former mayor Marty Grohman:

The Biddeford Gazette — We’re free, and we’re worth it!

Of course, we could always take the serious and boring route:

The Biddeford Gazette — Your trusted source for Biddeford news and information;

According to the experts, your tagline should really describe your brand and reputation. So, how about:

The Biddeford Gazette — There’s no such thing as a day off in our newsroom?

But my all-time favorite has to be this one from a former colleague who wished to remain anonymous:

The Biddeford Gazette — Where cranky, old-school journalists go to die in southern Maine.

What do you think should be our motto? Send your suggestions to biddefordgazette@gmail.com

If we pick your original suggestion, you get a $20 gift certificate to Reilly’s Bakery. Yum!

A busy week!

It’s been a busy week here in the Biddeford Gazette’s newsroom.

We started off the week with a rather interesting story featuring local author Susan Graham’s new book about the “Great Fires of 1947” and how that disaster impacted several Biddeford neighborhoods.

That story was one of the most popular pieces we have published. Dozens of people emailed me their own recollections and the stories that were passed down from generation to generation.

Speaking of fires, we also published an exclusive interview with Biddeford Fire Chief Lawrence Best about the city’s ongoing discussions about a potential substation that would be located in the eastern part of the city.

Of course, we updated a story we first published last year about more than $500,00 of fines the city of Biddeford is facing in IRS penalties for failing to submit employee health insurance records in 2021.

Our original story about the city’s financial problems – including the city’s IRS exposure — was first published in the Biddeford Gazette on March 10, 2025.

All I can say is that I am happy that we now have a new city manager, a new finance director, a new mayor and a relatively new city council.

Our exclusive reporting continued this week on an updated story about a complaint the city filed against the University of New England in York County Superior Court.

Finally, we received a press release a couple of weeks ago from State Rep. Marc Malon of Biddeford about a new bill he introduced.

We could have just copied and pasted Malon’s press release, but we decided to dig a little deeper about his proposal to prohibit the use of credit cards for online sports gambling.

At first blush, I considered Malon’s proposal to be yet another example of government overreach into private affairs, but he convinced me otherwise.

In closing, a funny story about the power and benefit of local news, the flexibility of the internet and accessible reporters. Malon really liked the story, but he was a bit uncomfortable with our original headline: “Online gambling addiction troubles Biddeford lawmaker.”

When Malon texted me to ask if we could change the headline, I was more than happy to oblige. Some people were inferring that Malon was having personal problems with a gambling addiction.

One of my old editors – Harry Foote – was likely rolling in his grave. I had forgotten the most basic fundamentals of headline writing: Short, clear in subject-verb-object order.

And that’s a wrap! Stay warm and be safe!

P.S. Oh, yeah. . . . almost forgot to mention: The Biddeford Gazette is now a registered and incorporated as a non-profit entity in the state of Maine!

____________

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!

Biddeford Middle School presents ‘Moana JR.’

January 30, 2026February 10, 2026 ~ Karen Garnett ~ Leave a comment

By KAREN GARNETT, Contributing Writer

Disney’s Moana JR. is playing at Biddeford Middle School’s Performing Arts Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, and Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. each evening.

The 60-minute musical, adapted from the book by Susan Soon He Stanton and the 2016 Disney animated film, brings the adventures of Moana and her village of Motunui to life onstage. The Biddeford Middle School Drama Club’s cast includes 85 students led by Coleen Hatt and Rob Petit.

“Much like Moana’s journey, this production is about courage, curiosity, and discovering your own voice. Our students have taken creative risks, supported one another, and grown tremendously throughout this process,” said BMS Drama Teacher Coleen Hatt. “Performing for a live audience brings that journey full circle, and we hope our community will join us in celebrating their hard work, growth, and the joy of storytelling on stage.”

Moana JR. tells the story of Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage. Moana and the legendary demigod Maui embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and camaraderie as both learn to harness the power that lies within. With empowering messages of bravery and selflessness, Moana JR. is sure to bring out the hero within each of us.

Moana JR. features all the beloved songs from the film, written by Tony®, GRAMMY, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina, including “How Far I’ll Go,” “Shiny,” and “You’re Welcome,” with orchestration adapted and arranged by Ian Weinberger.

Both shows are open to the public with donations accepted at the door. Seating is general admission, and doors will open at 6: p.m. The Facebook event can be found at https://bit.ly/4k5LAvQ.

Disney’s Moana JR. is presented through a special arrangement with, and all authorized performance materials are provided by, Music Theatre International (www.mtishows.com).

For more information about licensing Moana JR. or other Disney shows, please visit www.DisneyMusicals.com.

_______________

Karen Garnett is Director of Communications for Biddeford, Saco and Dayton schools.

She can be reached at kgarnett@biddefordschools.me

Biddeford lawmaker’s bill addresses online gambling addiction

January 30, 2026January 30, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 3 Comments

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

Over just the last few years, online gambling has exploded in popularity all over the country and its impacts are being felt here in Maine — on several different fronts.

That gambling explosion – especially the rise in online sports/fantasy wagering – has also caused some problems, most notably a sharp increase in gambling addiction.

In response, State Rep. Marc Malon (D-Biddeford) has introduced a bill to provide additional safeguards for Mainers struggling with gambling addiction. LD 2080, Malon says, is designed to prohibit the use of credit cards in online sports betting.

State Rep. Marc Malon (D-Biddeford) testifies before the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee. Committee about his bill to prohibit the use of credit cards for online sports betting (Contributed photo)

Although at first glance, it may seem that his proposed legislation is just another example of government overreach into private affairs or the expansion of a so-called “nanny state,” Malon points out that several large, national gambling sites already prohibit the use of credit cards for online sports betting.

In fact, DraftKings – one of the nation’s largest online fantasy sports and sportsbook betting sites – decided last year to discontinue allowing its players to use their credit cards for online wagers.

“You can rack up a lot of debt real fast by using your credit card,” Malon said. “That’s especially true in the highly addictive realm of online gaming.”

Malon also points out that current state law prohibits the use of credit cards at casino slot machines.

During an interview last week with the Gazette, Malon said he struggled when Gov. Janet Mills did not veto an internet gaming bill. “That was one of the hardest decisions I had to make as a state legislator,” he said.

According to the National Institutes for Health (NIH), online gambling addiction is a growing problem in the United States.

In Maine, more people are calling the Maine Problem Gambling Hotline since the state legalized online sports betting over a year ago, according to a Feb. 7, 2025 story by Madi Smith of Maine Public.

In 2018, a Supreme Court ruling struck down a federal sports betting ban, and gambling skyrocketed in subsequent years. Today, roughly 22 percent of Americans—and 48 percent of men ages 18–49—report having at least one online sportsbook account, according to the Siena Research Institute.

As of December 2025, 31 states, plus Washington, D.C., allow for some form of online sports betting, according to Hopkins Bloomberg Health Magazine.

“Legal and regulated gaming creates jobs and provides significant revenue to our state,” said Malon. “But as the popularity of sports wagering grows and as iGaming comes online, the Legislature must prioritize measures that balance sports betting’s economic benefits with modest guardrails to protect Mainers from addiction and falling into debt. This bill strikes that balance.”

Malon cited research which shows that enabling credit card payments for online betting and sports gambling contributes to higher wagering amounts, increased rate of compulsive gambling and greater financial consequences, as people can more easily accumulate debt.

There are currently seven states, including Maine’s neighbors of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, that already have this prohibition in place, Malon said.

In related news, the owners of Oxford Casino — one of Maine’s two casinos – told WGME-TV earlier this week that they will be suing the state over a new law that allows Maine’s four federally recognized tribes to offer iGaming.

Oxford Casino calls that an “unlawful monopoly” and says it’s “discrimination” based on “race.”

The lawsuit says internet gaming could take away from its revenue, causing “substantial job losses and hundreds of millions of dollars in lost economic output.”

____________

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!

City seeks public input on recreation priorities

January 29, 2026January 29, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

According to a press release, the city of Biddeford is inviting residents to share their feedback on recreation needs and priorities in Biddeford through a short public survey. The survey is designed to inform future decision-making on the use of the $6 million General Obligation Bond approved by voters in November 2025 to fund improvements to the city’s recreation facilities.

*Photo: City of Biddeford Recreation Department*

The survey is available online at www.biddefordmaine.org/recbondsurvey.

Residents are encouraged to participate and help shape the future of recreation in the community.

Community engagement on the recreation bond will continue throughout the spring, including planned ward meetings, a public hearing, and interactive outreach at upcoming community events. These efforts are intended to ensure residents have multiple opportunities to participate in the decision-making process.

Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!

OPINION: Helping parents afford childcare

January 29, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

By STATE SEN. HENRY INGWERSEN, Special to the Gazette

On the first day of the legislative session, I joined my colleagues in the House and Senate at a press conference to outline our sweeping “Lower Costs, Stronger Communities” bill package. From health care and energy to childcare and housing, we are going to work hard to lower everyday costs for Maine families.

As part of this package, I’d like to highlight my bill, LD 1859, “An Act to Improve Access to Child Care and Early Childhood Education by Establishing Regional Resource Hubs.” It seeks to address Maine’s childcare crisis by creating a network of regional hubs to connect families, childcare providers and employers with much-needed information and support. It would help them locate early childhood programs and similar resources, including training opportunities for providers in the state. I know that childcare is a personal issue for many, and, as a grandfather, it’s personal for me and my family, too.

*Photo: Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families*

In that same vein, following another press conference a couple of weeks later with Senate President Mattie Daughtry, parents and childcare workers, I introduced a bill to invest in Maine’s essential child care system. I presented LD 2066, “An Act to Establish the Child Care Employment Award,” to the Health and Human Services Committee, which I chair.

Seeking to build on a successful two-year pilot program, the bill would make the Child Care Employment Award (CCEA) a permanent component of Maine’s child care subsidy system, supplemented by the Child Care Affordability Program (CCAP). The CCEA maximizes existing public investments in child care and gives an added boost to those who work as child care professionals. 62% of participating families are eligible for the CCAP and receive subsidies from it. The CCEA covers the required co-payments for those children whose parents are child care professionals at an average of $114 per child. That’s real money that parents can keep in their pockets. This is an added incentive to the child care staff who currently are some of the lowest-paid professionals in Maine.

At its core, this bill recognizes a simple truth: our child care system cannot function without the educators and staff who show up every day to care for Maine’s youngest children – and those workers must be able to afford child care themselves. When child care workers can afford care for their own children, staffing levels stabilize, classrooms stay open and parents across all sectors can continue working. This program is not simply a benefit for individual educators – it is essential infrastructure.

I told the Committee: As of September 2025, the program currently supports 511 Maine children from 313 working families. Without additional funding, 470 children from 312 families will remain on the waitlist. These children – and their hardworking parents – have already waited too long. We need to get them off the waitlist and into child care centers across the district, like St. Louis Child Development Center in Biddeford.

I had the opportunity to tour St. Louis Center in Biddeford in the fall. During the visit, I learned about the high-quality childcare that St. Louis has been delivering to children of all backgrounds and needs for over 35 years. Indeed, the Center has extensive experience navigating Maine’s childcare system, and they excel at working with families from all walks of life. I especially appreciated their comments and feedback on how we can make the childcare system less burdensome for care providers and families alike.

I, along with some of my colleagues, have taken that feedback to heart. The child care workers at St. Louis emphasized the importance of predictability and stability in state child care programs in order for centers to keep their doors open and retain staff. We need to continue to fund and support the child care subsidy system, and we need to be creative in making it work for more families.

With these critical investments, we can support Mainers with children and those who take care of them, making it easier and more affordable to start a family here in Maine.

___________

State Sen. Henry Ingwersen represents the communities of Arundel, Biddeford, Dayton, Hollis and Lyman in the Maine Senate. (District 32)

He may be contacted at henry.ingwersen@legislature.maine.gov

Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!

UNE, SRCC ask court to dismiss Biddeford’s complaint

January 29, 2026January 30, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

The University of New England (UNE) and the Saco River Corridor Commission (SRCC) are both asking the York County Superior Court to dismiss a civil complaint that was filed against them by the city of Biddeford.

The requests for dismissal were each filed earlier this month after the city formally brought its complaint to the court in December.

The city’s complaint — according to City Attorney Harry Center – was triggered by new information that came to light in an Oct. 14, 2025 story published by the Biddeford Gazette: UNE Pier approval tainted by glaring SRCC mistake.

*The Superior Court has yet to hear oral arguments in Biddeford’s complaint about the University of New England and the Saco River Corridor Commission.*

At the center of its complaint, the city argues that the SRCC neglected to consider its earlier ruling in 2001, which created a 250-foot no-development buffer zone between UNE’s campus and the Saco River.

Despite that 2001 ruling, the SRCC approved UNE’s request to construct a large-scale pier on the Saco River in August 2024. That pier will require construction of a paved access road through the buffer zone.

In October, SRCC Executive Director Cherie Dunning described the situation as a mistake that could not be remedied retroactively because the time frame for an appeal of the agency’s decision has expired.

“It does appear that there was an omission of relevant information provided to the commissioners before last year’s vote,” Dunning told the Gazette in October.

Only weeks after the city’s biennial election, Biddeford’s new mayor and city councilors decided that the issue warranted further review and consideration.

Center told the Gazette this week that the court has yet to hear any arguments. He also said that he – on behalf of the city – has filed a request to have the court hear oral arguments.

In their motion to dismiss, the university listed several reasons why the city’s complaint should be dismissed by the court, arguing that the “court lacks jurisdiction to consider the untimely complaint and that the city failed to exhaust any administrative remedies.”

Furthermore, UNE claims that the Saco River Corridor Commission did not fail to do its due diligence in reviewing the university’s application.

The university also says the city does not have standing to bring the complaint.

The controversial pier project was narrowly approved by the Biddeford Planning Board (3-2) in August 2025.

A group of Biddeford residents then filed an appeal of the planning board’s decision but that appeal was rejected by the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals.

The research pier was also approved last year by both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

The city has not yet issued a required building permit for the pier project.

_______________

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!

York County government, college celebrate regional training partnership

January 28, 2026January 28, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

By TAMMY WELLS, Contributing Writer

Come spring, Advanced Life Support and Pediatric Life Support training programs will be in place at York County Regional Training Center. Advanced EMT classes and labs are ongoing now at the new facility. Firefighting classes are happening. Law enforcement classes are scheduled. A citizens’ academy that gives residents a look at policing meets there weekly.

The decades-long dream of a centralized location for all manner of first responder training is now a firm reality.

And a couple of old friends have teamed up to offer it all, together.

*York County Regional Training Center is up and running. (Contributed photo)*

The relationship between York County government and York County Community College began several years ago. Now, it is stronger than ever, with the signing of an agreement that further formalizes their relationship.

“I call it taking a handshake agreement and turning it into a true partnership,” said YCRTC Director Roger Hooper as York County Manager Greg Zinser and YCCC President Michael Fischer put their signatures to paper on Jan. 21.

What it means is that YCRTC instructors will be guiding firefighter training outside at the drill tower, sharpening their skills in safely rescuing a person trapped inside a burning building. Back inside the vast training center, YCCC instructors in an EMS lab outfitted with patient mannequins and a mock ambulance, will be leading another class.

A real jail cell will be a tool to aid those training as corrections officers, and other instructional equipment, like a dispatch console, is being considered. There’s a decontamination unit, an auditorium, and much more.

The collaboration is a system that works, those involved say.

“(This agreement) represents years of collaboration, careful planning and a shared belief that the best way to serve our communities is to invest in the people who protect them,” said York

County Manager Greg Zinser. “These agreements define roles and responsibilities, but more importantly, they align our missions.”

“When public entities work together with clarity and purpose, our communities are stronger,” said York County Community College President Michael Fischer.

“By aligning the County’s facilities and expertise with the College’s educational offerings, curriculum review processes, and assessment standards, we are able to ensure consistent, high-quality learning experiences that support education in fire safety, law enforcement, emergency medical services, and related public safety fields in a way that is coordinated and intentional,” he added.

*York County Regional Training Center director Roger Hooper points out features of the drill hall to reporters and others during a tour.* *(Contributed photo)*

Richard Clark is in his ninth year as a York County Commissioner and previously served 18 years as a Wells selectman – and he pointed out, in both levels of government, the hiring and retention of public safety personnel figures largely.

“Training is continuous,” Clark said. So, when commissioners learned York County would be awarded $40 million under the American Rescue Plan Act – what they knew would be a once in a lifetime award – they sought community input and mulled several projects.

Ultimately the board decided on two major projects: a first responder training center and a separate substance use treatment and recovery center – the latter currently under construction – as well as providing financial support for in-house projects and for initiatives by area nonprofits.

“We knew we wanted to do something to benefit all of York County,” said Commissioner Donna Ring.

YCCC Criminal Justice Program Chair Tim Burton said the new first responder facility helps expand the college footprint further into the county – Alfred is the geographic center of York County.

“(It gives) York County residents greater access to courses,” Burton said. “It increases opportunities.”

The training center is a $24 million project, funded with a combination of ARPA money, congressionally directed spending funds, grants and county funds.

York County Regional Training Center is at 79 First County Way, off Route 4 and Layman Way in Alfred.

More information, including upcoming course opportunities, can be found at: Regional Training Center | York County Maine Government.

An open house is planned for later this year.

____________

Tammy Wells is a media specialist at York County government.

City facing $500k in IRS penalties, fines

January 28, 2026January 28, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

The city of Biddeford is now facing roughly $500,000 in penalties and fines from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

According to City Manager Truc Dever, the issue traces back to 2021 when the city failed to submit specific forms detailing employee health insurance.

“Initially, the fines and penalties were approximately $700,000,” Dever told the city council during last week’s meeting.

Dever said the city already paid the IRS roughly $200,000 in fines. She also said that the city is working closely with staffers in U.S. Senator Susan Collins’ office to help rectify the issue.

Dever told the council that she is expecting an answer from the IRS sometime before March.

The issue first came to light in 2024, and several councilors asked whether the issue was isolated to just the 2021 incident.

Dever said the fines are incurring compounded interest payments.

Councilor Dylan Doughty asked whether the city could renegotiate the penalty payments and whether they could be spread over a period of time.

“If the IRS determines that there was no harm, no foul – will we get the $200,000 back?” Doughty asked.

Dever said she was not sure how the IRS will proceed.

City Attorney Harry Center told councilors that the IRS determined the city’s penalties by calculating the number of its employees. The city has roughly 700 employees, he said.

Mayor Liam LaFountain asked Dever if the city could be facing other penalties for different tax years and whether processes have been put in place to prevent the situation from happening again sometime in the future.

Dever told the mayor that the issue was contained to the 2021 filing and that the city is monitoring and updating all of its tax and federal filing obligations.

__________

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!

Eastern fire substation moving through review process

January 26, 2026January 27, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

NOTE: This story has been updated in order to clarify that city of Biddeford has not had any formal discussions with the owners of the Biddeford Pool volunteer fire station. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

It is an idea that has been discussed for nearly a decade, but it now appears that momentum is increasing to finally create a full-time substation of the Biddeford Fire Department somewhere on the eastern side of the city.

According to Biddeford Fire Chief Lawrence Best, the overall goal is to reduce emergency response times in areas from the intersections of the Guinea Road, easterly, along both Pool and West streets, toward the coastal neighborhoods of Hills Beach, Granite Point, Fortunes Rocks and Biddeford Pool.

During an interview with the Gazette last week, Best said he is looking at multiple location options.

*Biddeford Fire Department Chief Larry Best (City photo)*

Two of the most talked about options include converting the privately-owned Biddeford Pool volunteer firehouse; and purchasing a parcel of land now owned by the University of New England (UNE) near the intersection of Pool Street and Newtown Road.

A little more than three years ago, former mayor Alan Casavant created a committee taskforce to review potential sites and various ways to improve emergency response times.

Ward One City Councilor Pat Boston represents that part of the city, a role she held previously before taking a hiatus from serving on the council.

Boston also served on the task force created by Casavant.

“It was always about response times, and that is what drove the bulk of our conversations,” she said.

Best told the Gazette that emergency response times should not exceed a window of more than four to six minutes, at least 90 percent of the time for all calls.

Best also says that the easterly part of the city has seen an increase in demand for service, including an average of 160 calls per year from the University of New England’s Biddeford campus.

Boston quoted former city councilor Norman Belanger, saying that public safety is one of the three major functions the city should provide.

“Response times are important,” Boston said. “But it’s also important to remember that there is a substantial cost involved. Whichever option we choose we need to make sure that choice addresses both current and future needs.”

Boston says she likes the idea of converting the Biddeford Pool Fire station into a full-time, 24-7 substation staffed and operated by the city, but said she is also keeping an open mind about other potential locations.

Best describes the 30-acre parcel owned by UNE as his ‘Plan A” site but concedes that there are several potential issues that could limit or prevent future development.

“That site has some vernal pools and wetlands that would not be appropriate for development,” Best said. “As the fire chief, it is my responsibility to keep an eye out for all the options.”

Best said there would be a significant cost associated with converting the privately owned Biddeford Pool fire station into a full-time “livable station.”

“We are not having any formal discussions with the Biddeford Pool Improvement Association at this time, Best said. “I have had a couple of high-level concept discussions, but nothing formal.”

He says that the Biddeford Pool option would not necessarily meet the objectives of reducing response times in other parts of eastern Biddeford, including homes along the Guinea Road and Hills Beach Road, which cuts through UNE’s campus.

Best made a detailed presentation about the ongoing discussions and goals of creating an eastern fire substation a few weeks ago during the Dec. 16 Biddeford City Council meeting.

Best told the council that the UNE property continues to be the preferred location for a substation given its location and travel routes. “A majority of the fire/EMS calls in this area can be reached from this location within the national standard response time of four to six minutes,” he said.

Where are we, and where do we want to go?

Best joined the Biddeford Fire Department as its new chief in 2023.

The city’s Central Fire station still lives up to its name today because of its central location even as the city expands in both an easterly and westerly direction, Best said.

Today, Best describes his department as “fully staffed” with a total of 52 full-time employees, including 48 employees trained as both firefighters and paramedics, including EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians).

“I am all about efficiency and saving the city money,” Best said. “All of our firefighters have dual training. This gives us the flexibility we need to handle every call for service.”

______________

“I am all about efficiency and saving the city money.”

— Fire Chief Larry Best

______________

Current response times to the eastern part of the city can take 12 to 14 minutes. “That is a long time to wait if you’re in an emergency situation,” Best said.

Best said Biddeford has “outstanding” mutual aid agreements in place with several surrounding communities.

“This job requires me to be vigilant and always scanning the horizon for new opportunities and planning ahead for potential challenges,” he said.

Best said he is looking forward to an upcoming workshop meeting with the mayor and city council.

“A workshop meeting is a more relaxed setting than a regular council meeting,” Best said. “This will give the council an opportunity to ask questions and for us to make sure that they have all the information they need or want.”

Editor’s Note: You may view and/or download the Dec. 16 presentation to the city by clicking the link below.

Fire Station PDF Download

______________

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!

The Fire of 1947’s devastating impact on Biddeford

January 25, 2026January 25, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

Local author Susan Graham discusses her book that recounts devastating damage to Fortunes Rocks and other Biddeford neighborhoods

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

It would become the largest natural disaster in Maine’s history, and it destroyed dozens of homes in many of Biddeford’s coastal neighborhoods.

Overall, the “Great Fire of 1947” caused more than $30 million in damages (roughly $438 million in today’s dollars) destroying entire towns and leaving more than 2,500 Maine people homeless.

Though the fires caused considerable damage in several communities, including Bar Harbor, York County was especially hard hit.

“It was devastating for so many families, especially in Fortunes Rocks,” says local author Susan Graham.

Graham recently published “Lost Fortunes Rocks: A Maine Summer Colony and the Fire of 1947,” a detailed account of how the devastating fires impacted the city of Biddeford, including its major employers and local government.

Local author Susan Graham holds a copy of her latest book, which offers detailed information about the “Great Fires of 1947” and how they destroyed entire neighborhoods and impacted Biddeford. (Seaver photo)

Graham’s book offers more than 180 pages of historical photos and meticulously researched information about the fire’s impact on local families, including her own parents who had moved to Biddeford from Kennebunkport just before the fire.

“It was a labor of love,” Graham said during a recent interview about her book at the Lincoln Hotel in Biddeford. “I just found it fascinating, and I had this personal connection to the fire because of where my family lived at the time.”

Much of Graham’s research was conducted at the McArthur Library in Biddeford during the COVID pandemic.

“The library was a treasure trove of information,” she recalled. “They are such a wonderful resource for the community.”

Graham said it seemed – at the time – that all of York County was on fire. In fact, the fire caused extensive damage in the western parts of the county, including the small towns of Newfield and Parsonsfield – but its most devastating impact in York County happened along the shoreline from Kennebunkport to Biddeford Pool, including the resort villages of Goose Rocks Beach, Granite Point and Fortunes Rocks.

According to Graham, the weather conditions that fueled the fire were quite similar to last year’s drought conditions in southern Maine.

“The summer of 1947 was exceptionally dry,” Graham explained. “It made heavily wooded rural areas into a virtual tinderbox.”

There are many theories about what ignited the blaze that raged for nearly two weeks in mid-October. Graham and other historians say it could have been a combination of things including human activity such as a tossed cigarette or autumn brush burning.

Graham said bucket brigades worked around the clock near Fortunes Rocks Beach, but those volunteers and the city’s firefighting resources were pulled away from the coast and redirected to protecting the central part of the city.

“There were concerns that the fires would continue up Rte. 111 from Arundel and cross Five Points, threatening the city’s hospitals, “Graham said. “The city’s fathers didn’t want to risk losing both the Webber and Trull hospitals. Who could question that decision?”

___________

“The city’s fathers didn’t want to risk losing both the Webber and Trull hospitals.”

— Susan Graham

____________

Graham says the fire raged from treetop to treetop, fueled by 40 mph wind gusts. Though roughly 50 people remained in Fortunes Rocks to fight the blaze, it was not enough to prevent what she describes as devastating damage to that neighborhood.

Large local employers, including the Saco-Lowell shops, shut down production so that their employees could help the city fight the rampaging fires.

About 60 homes were destroyed in Fortunes Rocks, Graham says, pointing out that eastern portions of Biddeford were at the time a “rural bread basket” that included several farms and a major source of food for the region.

Graham says it took her almost two years to compile the research and self-publish her book.

Copies of Graham’s book – in both hardcover and paperback — are available for sale at the Brick Store Museum in Kennebunk and online at grayeaglebooks@gmail.com

____________

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!