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.
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Karen Garnett is Director of Communications for Biddeford, Saco and Dayton schools.
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.
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State Sen. Henry Ingwersen represents the communities of Arundel, Biddeford, Dayton, Hollis and Lyman in the Maine Senate. (District 32)
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.
Let me ask you something: what do you do when you feel pain?
That’s a loaded question. So, let’s stick to the responsible move: see a doctor and establish the cause.
The answer is no different when it comes to a business, a city, a state or even a nation. Identifying the causes of our malaise is the first step toward remedying it. So why are we so averse to that conversation in public? We are unable to get past “something hurts” and identify what’s hurting and what’s causing it.
Biddeford has suffered years of preventable mismanagement that has persisted without anyone naming the specific, often boring, causes.
Sam Pecor
Take our Comprehensive Plan. You don’t need a comprehensive plan to exist as a city. You do, however, need the state’s approval, a finding of consistency, if you want the full set of planning tools, if you expect the state to take your zoning seriously, and if you want Biddeford to be competitive for the grant dollars and capital investment that reward communities that plan.
According to the state’s own planning incentives list (quoted verbatim), here’s all that we’ve given up by not receiving state approval for our Comprehensive Plan:
Enact legitimate zoning, impact fee, and rate of growth ordinances;
Require state agencies to comply with local zoning standards;
Qualify for preferred status with many of the state’s competitive grant programs;
Guide state growth-related capital investment towards locally-chosen growth areas;
Qualify for Site Location of Development Act exemptions for certain growth-area developments;
Qualify for relaxed MaineDOT traffic permit standards for certain growth-area developments;
Qualify for authority to issue Natural Resources Protection Act (NRPA) permits; and
Qualify for authority to issue Site Location of Development Act permits.
For the residents living beside the York Judicial Center: in practice, without a state-approved Comprehensive Plan, our zoning standards can be merely advisory to the state, weakening our ability to protect abutters.
Failure to adopt a state-approved Comprehensive Plan does far more than erode our ability to self-govern. It affects everyone. It weakens our competitiveness for state grant opportunities. That leaves significant money on the table and pushes more of the burden onto property taxpayers.
A consistent failing among city leadership has been communicating the connections between these problems and the pain we are feeling today. When people understand these connections, they are more likely to support real solutions: funding for staff, investments in technology and increased compliance oversight, to name a few.
Citizens of Biddeford understand cause and effect; we get that investing $1 to save $2 is a good deal. Establish the cause, determine the cost and implement a strategy that saves more than it costs. That’s it, that’s the whole ball game.
Sam Pecor is a Biddeford resident and serves on the Biddeford Gazette’s Advisory Board. We welcome submitted commentary from our readers.For more information, please CONTACT US
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What’s it like to be unhoused and hungry on Christmas Day
By TOM McPHEETERS,Contributing Writer
“What I miss most is bacon and eggs,” he said.
I see this gentleman every week at Seeds of Hope and have struck up a bit of a relationship. He agrees that breakfasts at Seeds of Hope are pretty good, and around this time of year, the lunches are often really, really good. As the weather turns and people become more aware of the plight of people without a home of their own, we are favored with all sorts of good food.
Meals like Shepherd’s Pie, pasta and meatloaf, even complete turkey or ham dinners; pretty much something different every day.
These days, that’s breakfast and lunch for upwards of 100 people, moving in and out of a dining room that holds, maybe, 50 people at a time. People can hang out downstairs, where the food is served, all day now and in cold weather the place is jammed from morning until afternoon, when people are encouraged to go across the street to Second Congregational Church, where a sister program, Bon Appetit, serves dinner.
But we don’t serve bacon and eggs. I point out to my friend that eggs are really expensive these days, and bacon is also, besides being messy and hard to cook in large quantities in a small kitchen. He agrees, and stresses that he’s not complaining.
It’s just a memory of better times for him. I have to agree. Better times.
A simple breakfast of Bacon & Eggs makes it feel a bit more like Christmas at the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Resource Center in Biddeford. (Stock photo, Wiki Commons
Breakfast at Seeds is generally pretty utilitarian — simple foods that us volunteers can serve and which will fill you up — cereal, donuts and muffins, toasted English muffins or waffles, plus juice and all the coffee you can drink.
But Christmas morning is special. Breakfast this morning, cooked by our executive director and a small group of staff and volunteers, would put a Dennys Big Man breakfast to shame. Sausage and bacon, eggs (in the form of a quiche), plus biscuits and toast. A plate crowded with the favorites.
It’s as festive as we can make it, including gifts for the residents, and people are appreciative. Unfortunately, my friend who loves bacon and eggs has been sick all week and care barely swallow a piece of toast. His friends are trying to get him to go to the ER, but he resists.
It’s also a reminder to me that everybody I meet at Seeds of Hope has their own stories and their own memories. The holiday brings that same mixture of joy and sadness that we all experience.
Seeds of Hope, in an old church on South Street, is the only game in town (or anywhere in the vicinity) for people who are homeless or precariously housed. Technically, Seeds of Hope is a warming center, not a shelter, because of local and state regulations, but it functions as a full-service shelter with paid staff who are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week until spring.
In addition to a place to spend the night and food, you can get other things as well: mail, charge your phone, referrals for health and counseling services, leads on housing and jobs, and (most of all) companionship and a friendly ear..
A woman finds shelter at a Biddeford bus stop. (File photo)
According to the latest count from the York County Homeless Response Hub, there are roughly 347 individuals in York County who are unhoused. Of that number, 157 are what is known as “chronic,” which means they have been homeless for a year or more.
Since Seeds of Hope is currently the only functioning shelter in the county, a good share of those folks end up here. That still leaves an unknown but quite significant number of people living outside, in tents and encampments in the wooded areas in and around Biddeford,
At least this time of year the homeless are on people’s minds. Food and clothing pour in. The need is year-round but it’s the cold weather that will force more people inside.
Seeds of Hope (and many other locally based programs) always run on volunteer help.
Before the crunch this fall, the Seeds staff, the city’s General Assistance office and their partner organizations were finding housing for at least one person a week — more than 75 — since the Mechanics Park encampment was closed a year and a half ago.
That is high- intensity work, with getting to know each individual and their needs, and then networking to find an appropriate next step.
Right now, the focus is on keeping people safe. The upstairs, where people sleep, is at capacity, which is 50 “gravity chairs” that double as cots. There are usually three or four more people shoehorned in because it is so hard to regulate the comings and goings. It’s been that way all fall, and now winter has set in and Seeds is struggling to meet the demand.
Vassie Fowler, executive director of Seeds of Hope, says one of her biggest problems right now is rumors and misinformation, which makes it harder to find the right option for people in need, and much harder to turn people away. If in doubt, she says, call (207) 571-9601 before sending somebody expecting to spend the night.
And that many people in close quarters brings its own set of issues. No one really wants to live like this. But at least, at Christmas, the people staying at Seeds or coming in during the day know that they are not forgotten.
As in any family, food is one of the first ways we show we care.
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Tom McPheeters is a life-long lover of Maine and a year-round resident of nearly three years. After a journalism career or 25 years at three newspapers in Ohio and New York State, Tom spent the last 30 years as a community organizer and advocate in Albany, NY. He lives in Biddeford Pool.
The Biddeford Gazette welcomes commentary and feedback from our readers. To learn more, please CONTACT US
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This holiday season, the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club once again demonstrated the power of community through its annual Adopt-A-Family Program, ensuring that 200 local children experienced the joy of Christmas morning. Despite the growing need, Rotarians and their helpers remained undeterred—managing every aspect of the program, from shopping and wrapping to organizing deliveries, through a collective effort rooted in service.
Each year, the club partners closely with the Biddeford, Saco, and Dayton School Departments to identify families who may need extra support during the holidays. Parents create wish lists that include clothing, toys, and basic necessities, which Rotarians and community volunteers eagerly fulfill.
Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club continues Adopt-A-Family program. These donated gifts will be headed to the homes of 200 children in the Biddeford-Saco area. (Courtesy Photo)
“This program is about much more than gifts,” said Rotarian Shelley Kane, Adopt-A-Family Program Co-Chair. “It’s about dignity, compassion, and letting families know that their community truly cares. When we see the number of children we’re able to support grow each year, it reinforces just how important this work is.”
The Rotary Club budgets $9,000 annually–or $125 per child–for the Adopt-A-Family Program. The Program is made possible by the club’s annual Mini Golf For Good Fundraiser, which takes place in August each year. Through the generosity of event sponsorships and friends at Schooner Mini Golf, Raptor Falls Mini Golf, and, in recent years, Martel’s Mini Golf, the club is able to support this program year after year.
Many Rotarians and community members independently sponsor children, enabling the club to serve more families and meet growing holiday demand for assistance.
“Time and time again, people step up in incredibly generous ways,” added Jane Foley, Adopt-A-Family Program Co-Chair. “Whether it’s a Rotarian, a local business, or a family member who hears about the program, there’s a shared desire to make sure no child feels forgotten during the holidays.”
In addition to the individual Rotarians and community members who went above and beyond by sponsoring families, the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club extends a heartfelt thanks to the Biddeford High Schoo’s National Honor Society and Be The Change Team, Girl Scout Troop 1161, the Family of Maureen Grandmasion, Academy of Dance, Coastal Winair Co., Mick’s Sports Bar, Saco Elks Lodge, Pension Professionals, Rousseau Insurance, and ServPro. Their extraordinary generosity and commitment to giving back to the community are inspiring.
“Our club is incredibly proud of this tradition,” said Haley Thompson, President of the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club. “Adopt-A-Family Program reflects the very heart of Rotary—neighbors helping neighbors. The impact goes far beyond December, and it’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together.”
For more information on the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club or to learn more about the Adopt-A-Family program, visit: http://www.biddeford-sacorotary.org
You may also visit their Facebook page at: Rotary Club of Biddeford Club of Biddeford-Saco.
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Karen Garnett is Director of Communications for Biddeford, Saco and Dayton schools. She can be reached at kgarnett@biddefordschools.me
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The holiday season can be difficult for many people, but there are resources for those struggling with the extra stress
By State Rep. MARC MALON
The holiday season is a source of joy for many. The lights are pretty, the kids get excited for Santa and families gather in reunion and celebration; and obviously for many, it is an intensely holy and spiritual time of year.
It is also for many a time of elevated stress and emotional turmoil. There is something about the season which brings out complicated feelings. If this is true for you, know that you are not alone.
A 2021 study highlighted by the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) found that three out of five Americans feel that their mental health is negatively impacted by the holidays. Some of this can be attributed to simple pressures such as finding presents, and more difficult terrain such as navigating difficult family relationships.
The fact that the holidays coincide with the arrival of winter, literally the darkest days of the year, contributes to seasonal affective disorder in many folks.
Although a time of hope and celebration, the holiday season can be difficult for many people. (Photo: Yale University)
I feel this as well. I frequently feel depressed and melancholy during the Christmas season, even though I love the holiday itself and the social aspect of gathering with family and friends.
Some of this is likely due to the fact that it is a rare time in which I slow down, which gives me more time to reflect and think about all aspects of life; good, bad and ugly. Many classic Christmas songs drive home the melancholy even further (except for “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” – that one just annoys me).
So, as we move through this season, it is important to remember that if you are struggling, you are not alone.
Many – myself included – feel the same, and there are many resources in our greater community which might be helpful while navigating this time.
The rising cost of food can make it difficult for many folks to afford feeding their family on a daily basis, making a special holiday meal outside the realm of possibility. Recognizing this, the Bon Appetit Community Meal Program serves supper Monday through Friday at 4:30 p.m. and a Sunday breakfast at the Second Congregational Church on Second Street from 8 to 9 a.m. The church also serves a community ham dinner on Christmas Eve. If you are interested in learning more, you may call 207-391-6279 or email secondcongbiddeford@gmail.com.
The Biddeford Food Pantry is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. and all are welcome. This volunteer-run organization is not seasonal, it is a year-round miracle.
NAMI Maine operates a help line for mental health resources Mon. – Fri. from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Simply dial 1-800-464-5767 and then press 1. They can help you navigate options for mental health and substance use treatment.
This part is crucial: If you or a loved one are in crisis, please call or text 988.
These resources only scratch the surface of what is available.
Now, I think we can mostly agree that things in the world could be better. It needs to be easier to find affordable mental health care, both for immediate needs and for ongoing preventative services.
If you have ever tried to find a therapist who takes insurance, you know what I mean. And it would help if Congress could extend the Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies so working families don’t see their premiums skyrocket at the start of the new year. We have to do better.
But we also must try to find mutual strength and support in each other. We’re often good at providing it to one another in an acute sense – by donating to GoFundMe campaigns or attending a community fundraiser, or maybe even by donating food to a local hunger relief program.
But we should also try to consider what is needed for people we don’t know, especially those who are different from us. Communities are stronger when support is coming from all and available to all.
One of my favorite Christmas carols is a classic, “O’ Holy Night.” It is a religious song, first written by a French poet named Placide Cappeau, set to music by composer Adolphe Adam, and translated to English by John Sullivan Dwight.
Dwight and Cappeau were abolitionists who saw universal meaning in the song, one which could be applied regardless of religious beliefs. The final verse, which is not sung in all versions, contains the following lyrics:
“Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.”
Happy Holidays.
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Rep. Marc Malon is serving his second term in the Maine House of Representatives, representing a portion of Biddeford. He serves as a member of the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee and the Housing and Economic Development Committee. He can be reached via email at marc.malon@maine.gov
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In his letter to the editor, this Red Cross volunteer offers a stark reality about the need for blood donations during this time of year.
Editor:
A few hours into the blood drive, Nancy walked out of the Biddeford Eagles Facility in tears.
I hurried to meet her and asked what was wrong. Through her sobs, she said, “It happened again, my iron count was too low. I wanted so badly to give blood and help.”
Her disappointment was clear, and I gently reminded her that she was already helping simply by showing up. The truth is, I’ve seen this before, no matter how willing someone is, their iron or hemoglobin levels just aren’t high enough to donate that day.
But here’s what’s important: even when you can’t give blood, you can still give hope. A financial donation to the Red Cross helps ensure our lifesaving mission continues every single day.
As a volunteer in the Red Cross Biomedical Services, I see firsthand the difference your support makes. The Red Cross provides lifesaving blood to 38 Maine hospitals and medical centers, and we must collect 130 donations every day to meet patient needs.
The reality is this: The need for blood and platelets never stops. Cancer patients, accident victims, and surgical patients depend on it every day.
Blood can’t be manufactured; it must come from volunteer donors. Any pause in donations puts patients at risk. You can make a lifesaving difference right now.
Donate blood or platelets this month to help hospitals care for patients as we head into the holidays.
Make your appointment today. Visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or download the Blood Donor App to schedule your donation.
The holidays are also a time when emergencies increase such that home fire responses rise by
nearly percent nationwide, and many Mainers need help recovering. Because of caring donors and volunteers, the Red Cross is always there, providing shelter, financial support, first aid and comfort to families in crisis and to our military members facing challenges.
This holiday season, you can be the reason someone finds hope again. If you’re unable to give blood, please consider making a financial donation at redcross.org.
Together, we can ensure that no one faces their darkest moment alone, whether it’s after a disaster, in a hospital room or right here in our community.
As hunger relief organizations report an increase in demand heading into the winter months, Hannaford Supermarkets is partnering with Youth Full Maine and Wayside Food Programs to provide a critical boost to food access programs this holiday season, according to a company press release.
Dozens of Hannaford associates joined non-profit leaders and volunteers at two events over the past week to pack and distribute 1,000 meal boxes filled with fresh, nutritious and high-quality food for individuals and families across southern Maine.
Hannaford associates assemble food boxes in partnership with Youth Full Maine in Biddeford. In addition to donating more than 10,000 pounds of food, including produce and pantry staples, Hannaford invested $10,000 to bolster Youth Full Maine’s efforts to expand food access this holiday season.(Courtesy photo)
In addition to donating more than 20,000 pounds of food, including produce and pantry staples, Hannaford invested $20,000 to bolster Youth Full Maine and Wayside’s efforts to expand food access this holiday season.
“The holiday season is a time to reflect on the importance of community, and we take our responsibility to care for our communities very seriously,” said Sherri Stevens, Community Impact Manager for Hannaford Supermarkets. “Ensuring everyone has access to fresh, quality food is one of the simplest ways we can nourish our neighbors. We thank Youth Full Maine and Wayside Food Programs for their partnership in fighting hunger in our communities – both during the holiday season and throughout the year.”
Based in Biddeford and serving families throughout York County, Youth Full Maine manages school food pantries and conducts community-wide free food mobile distributions each month.
The organization will host numerous food distribution events this holiday season and will distribute holiday meal boxes to families through school-based pantries.
“We’re grateful to our partners at Hannaford Supermarkets who understand the importance of making sure all Mainers can access food this holiday season,” said Katie Brown, Executive Director of Youth Full Maine. “Throughout the year, Hannaford helps Youth Full Maine get nourishing foods to people of all ages who don’t get enough to eat, from seniors living alone to families with kids who are struggling to make ends meet.”
Hannaford has invested more than $1.8 million in food security programs in its communities over the past year. In 2024, Hannaford donated more than 27.6 million pounds of food to hunger relief organizations – the equivalent of 23 million meals – and is on track to meet the same amount this year.
The Heart of Biddeford will once again host the city’s Merry & Bright Night on Friday, December 5th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Adams Street in downtown Biddeford.
The annual event offers families and friends to gather downtown and enjoy an evening filled with holiday performances, joyful activities, festive lights and delicious treats that will warm even the coldest winter night.
Last year’s celebration drew a big crowd to the downtown area (Seaver photo)
This year’s celebration includes an exciting new highlight: the Merry Makerfair, running from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., inside the previous York County Courthouse.
Featuring more than 50 local vendors, the Merry Makerfair offers gifts for the whole family and adds a vibrant marketplace to the evening’s festivities.
Organizers say that the evening’s entertainment lineup offers something for everyone.
Performances will include the Academy of Dance, spreading holiday cheer through dance, and the Salvation Army Brass Band, bringing classic holiday tunes to Main Street.
The evening’s centerpiece—the downtown tree lighting—will take place at 6 p.m., when Santa will officially light the city’s holiday tree.
2025 Merry & Bright Poster – FINAL
Santa Claus will be available for picture taking in the Merry Makerfair from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Merry & Bright Night is packed with activities for younger attendees and the young at heart.
Kids can enjoy cookie decorating with materials donated by Reilly’s Bakery, hands-on art projects aboard the Common Roots Studio Art Bus, festive games, trolley rides, and visits with real reindeer.
The evening will also feature mascots mingling throughout the event, bringing extra fun and photo opportunities for families. Biddeford Recreation Department will offer popcorn and s’mores, and hot cocoa will be available for the community to enjoy.
Heart of Biddeford’s Merry & Bright Night is the perfect opportunity to gather with loved ones and celebrate the season in our beautiful downtown. With lights, laughter, music, and a strong sense of community, this event brings holiday joy to everyone.
Municipalities all across Maine are attempting to respond to the challenge of climate change, but in contrast to the “Maine Won’t Wait” dictum in the state’s plan, local advocates and government are finding it slow going.
That’s partly due to the nature of government, with its myriads of committees and boards and councils, and partly because adjusting to new realities has so many different aspects.
“Getting things from the proposal stage to legislation is a grind,” said one panelist at the Nov. 12 Climate Action Workshop held by the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC) and the University of New England.
Every picture tells a story. Coastal property owners in Biddeford prepare for the next big storm
As we have all experienced, with rapidly changing weather patterns anything is possible and anything can happen at any time. Biddeford had one “wakeup call” set of storms in January of 2024, but no one knows when the next such event will arrive. But clearly, it will, in its own good time.
A small but dedicated group of citizens have been working on ways to address climate change in Biddeford, both to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and how to mitigate the worst effects of extreme weather. With a mandate from the city council, the Biddeford Climate Change Task Force has so far focused on three areas where rules or ordinances could be amended:
Solar, with an eye to making it easier to develop solar arrays that are large enough to actually cut local government energy costs or reduce electric bills for residents;
Electric Vehicle charging stations, with potential mandates or incentives to developers to provide more changing stations or at least make sure the infrastructure is in place for future installations;
Land use: finding the right balance between use of undeveloped land in Biddeford recognizing that the city’s abundance of forested land should not be developed and that large solar arrays are not appropriate for every site.
All of these areas have the potential to bump up against property rights and to impede desired development. (And some issues — the example used at the SMPDC Workshop was about attempts to ban pesticide use — are simply too difficult for many local governments to handle.)
Will Kochtitzky, a professor at UNE who was speaking as the chair of Biddeford’s Sustainability Commission, noted that some of the commission’s work does not involve legislation. He later expanded on his comments in a Nov. 18 report to the Biddeford City Council.
The Sustainability Commission is charged with working with city departments where appropriate and advising the city council about implementing the Biddeford Climate Action Plan.
The Commission has applied for several grants, inventoried bike racks, is working to improve bike riding as an alternative to automobiles in Biddeford and assisted the city in reclassifying coastal areas as limited growth zones in its comprehensive plan.
The commission also conducted a second inventory of emissions from the city last summer.
“I am not pleased to report that we are going in the wrong direction,” Kochtitzky said.
While energy use in both residential and commercial buildings went down, automobile traffic in Biddeford was substantially up. Biddeford has committed itself to reduce carbon emissions by 2030 and must make more progress to meet this goal.
The new inventory from 2023 included more vehicles from other locations that came to Biddeford than the 2019 inventory — tourism is a “major industry” for Biddeford.
The commission has proposed legislation to increase electric vehicle charging stations in the city, and also a landscaping ordinance for new developments—both municipal and private.
The experience in other Maine cities was reviewed and integrated in the new draft ordinances. New legislation proposed affects property development and has been slow going. As local governments make sure that they do not drive away needed development, both of the proposed new laws are currently in committees to refine the wording and not discourage new projects.
“I am not pleased to report that we are going in the wrong direction.”
— Will Kochtitzky, UNE professor
Councilor Marc Lessard may have spoken for other council members at the Nov. 18 meeting when he stressed to Kochtitzky that he is mainly interested in things that either break even or lower city costs. He hoped these new proposals would include city costs to help the council make decisions, such as the municipal building energy audit.
Kochtitzky replied that the commission’s strategy, working with city staff, is to look for grants to facilitate this work. Unfortunately, federal grants are currently very limited and cannot be counted on for local projects.
Also, in Biddeford’s case, one of the most pressing issues is sea level rise with storm surge, that causes flooding and beach/dune erosion that affects beach front properties.
The Sustainability Commission is collaborating with SMPDC to get a grant to engineer a detailed beach management plan for southern Maine’s beaches that would make Biddeford’s beaches FEMA disaster assistance eligible.
While new construction — and some repair projects from the January 2024 storms — have opted to build or rebuild houses on stilts, most of the properties on or near Biddeford’s beaches are affected by Biddeford’s zoning ordinances and Maine’s beach and dune management ordinances (many through the Dept of Environmental Protection).
The city did obtain federal funding to rebuild roads that were washed out by those storms, and also to rebuild the granite boulder sea walls at Fortunes Rocks beach and Ocean Avenue in Biddeford Pool.
But some issues remain unresolved and apparently undiscussed.
Biddeford is one of the few municipalities in York County that has so far declined to sign on to a compact to use the dredge that York County purchased with federal funds.
According to a county report, the dredge is scheduled to remediate dunes and beaches in other coastal areas starting this month, beginning in Wells and moving on to the eroding beach at Camp Ellis, directly across Saco Bay from Biddeford Pool.
Municipal collaboration among the Saco Bay communities may be important in the next 10 years.
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Tom McPheeters is a life-long lover of Maine and a year-round resident of nearly three years. After a journalism career or 25 years at three newspapers in Ohio and New York State, Tom spent the last 30 years as a community organizer and advocate in Albany, NY. He lives in Biddeford Pool.
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There are many resources available for those struggling with food insecurity
By STATE SEN. HENRY INGWERSENSpecial to the Gazette
This week, I hope that the residents of Senate District 32 — whether in Dayton, Biddeford or Arundel, Hollis and Lyman, — can celebrate the holiday with their families, friends and neighbors. This time of year, our community always seems to pull closer together, and the past month has been no exception.
As we experienced the uncertainty of funding for SNAP (food stamps) for the nearly 1,500 families in our area that depend on it, businesses, groups, individuals and organizations rose to the occasion. Some of you donated items, money or time. Some of you shared flyers and posts on social media. Some of you checked in on a friend or a neighbor and found help for them. I am grateful for all of you and your efforts.
(Photo Courtesy Youth Full Maine)
Although folks ultimately received their full SNAP benefits, hunger remains present in our community. Among the many food assistance resources available, I want to spread the word about the new Maine Food Access Map from the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
The Ending Hunger Corps collaborated with food security organizations throughout the state to collect and compile data on a wide range of resources, which you can view online here. Because the map is new, I still encourage folks to contact the organization to confirm details such as hours of operation and services. I hope you explore the map, whether you are looking for help or you are looking to help.
In addition to the Maine Food Access Map, Youth Full Maine has put together a more local list of food resources for residents of Biddeford, Saco and Dayton. You can view the chart online here. I would like to highlight that, thanks to Youth Full Maine and our School Departments, every school in the district has an emergency food pantry. They offer take-home ingredients and meals, which may be helpful over the holiday break.
Looking a little beyond Thanksgiving, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4, Youth Full Maine will host a free food distribution in the parking lot of Biddeford Ice Arena (14 Pomerleau St.). It will be a drive-thru event with dry goods and fresh produce, featuring Santa. Mark your calendars and share the event.
As a reminder, for the entire month of November, the Maine Federation of Farmers Markets continues to provide Maine Harvest Bucks to SNAP participants at farmers’ markets. When you show your EBT card at a participating farmers’ market, including the nearby Kennebunk Farmers Market, you will receive $15 in Maine Harvest Bucks to spend on fresh produce. You can do this every time you visit the market in November. (Please be sure to check the hours ahead of time.)
Even before the SNAP crisis, I was proud to work on a bill that allocates ongoing funding to the Maine Harvest Bucks program. Although the full amount did not make it into the state’s budget, my proposal has been carried over to the next legislative session. That means I can try again.
Last month, I also successfully made the case for why the Legislature should, next session, consider a new bill to ensure we can continue to fund this critical program from private or state sources – even if federal match dollars disappear or dry up. After the Legislature resumes its work in January, I will be sure to share more information on this bill, including how and when to testify on it.
Being a grandfather, I am looking forward to time with my family this week. I hope you will, too. If the resources in this column do not provide the help you or someone you know is looking for, you can always call 211 or contact me at Henry.Ingwersen@legislature.maine.gov. You can also call the Senate Majority Office at (207) 287-1515.
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Henry Ingwersen is serving his second term as the state senator representing District 32, which includes Biddeford, Arundel, Dayton, Hollis and Lyman.
Biddeford Adult Education’s First Teachers Family Literacy Program has been selected as one of only three programs in the entire nation to receive a $10,000 grant through the newly launched Barbara Bush Fund for Family Literacy, an initiative of the George & Barbara Bush Foundation aimed at addressing America’s growing literacy crisis.
Biddeford Adult Education’s Family Literacy Coordinator Julie Berube promoting Family Literacy Month.
The fund’s launch was formally announced on November 5, 2025, during a reception at Texas A&M University’s Bush School for Government & Public Service in Washington, D.C. At the event, George & Barbara Bush Foundation CEO Alice Gonzalez Yates highlighted the urgent literacy challenges facing U.S. families—and the critical national role of family literacy programs like Biddeford’s.
Biddeford Adult Education’s First Teachers Family Literacy Program rose to national attention following an in-depth review by Pamela Cote, Senior Director of Literacy Programs and Partnerships for the George & Barbara Bush Foundation. Over the past year, Cote examined the program’s family learning events, parent–child literacy activities, and photos illustrating the authentic ways Biddeford families learn together.
“This recognition means so much because it affirms the heart of our work,” said David Durkee, Adult Education Director. “Julie Berube, our Family Literacy Coordinator, pours so much into creating supportive, joyful learning experiences for families. To be identified as one of the most impactful programs in the country is incredibly uplifting and motivates us to expand this work even further.”
When we invest in family literacy, we strengthen our students’ foundation for lifelong learning.
–Supt. Jeremy Ray
National data underscores the need: more than half of U.S. adults read at or below a sixth-grade level, and 69% of fourth graders lack proficiency in literacy—challenges linked to multigenerational poverty, academic struggles, and workforce-readiness barriers.
The $10,000 grant will enable Biddeford Adult Education to expand parent–child literacy events, increase early childhood reading activities, offer more parent education workshops, and strengthen partnerships that promote literacy from early childhood onward. These funds will broaden both the reach and depth of programming, ensuring more Biddeford families have access to tools, resources, and support that help build strong literacy foundations.
Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Ray praised the program’s national recognition, noting its direct impact on students and families: “This award shines a light on the powerful work happening right here in Biddeford. When we invest in family literacy, we strengthen our students’ foundation for lifelong learning. I’m incredibly proud of our Adult Education team for creating spaces where parents and children learn, grow, and succeed together.”
The new Fund represents the next chapter in a decades-long national commitment to literacy. Since 1989, the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy has invested more than $130 million in literacy programming across all 50 states. The establishment of the Barbara Bush Fund for Family Literacy transitions the Foundation’s historic program operations into a national grantmaking model designed to amplify high-impact local programs.
In announcing the first three recipients, the Foundation recognized Biddeford alongside Briya Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. and Achieve Plant City in Florida—placing Biddeford Adult Education in extraordinary company as part of the inaugural national cohort. As the Fund moves forward, the George & Barbara Bush Foundation will work closely with national literacy experts to shape the full grantmaking process, with the next round of grants expected in 2026.
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Karen Garnett is the communications director for the Biddeford School System. She can be contacted at kgarnett@biddefordschools.meN
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Next week is Election Day, but for many, including my wife, Jenn, and me, ballots have already been cast. This is because of Maine’s excellent voting laws, which allow voters to cast an absentee ballot as early as 30 days before Election Day.
This flexibility is a godsend for many of our neighbors, especially seniors, folks with disabilities and people whose jobs make it difficult to vote during the business week. All of these neighbors share with us the sacred constitutional rights and freedoms to vote and to have our votes counted in a fair election.
This year, in addition to the many seats up for election in Biddeford, Mainers are being asked to vote on two referendum questions, which can be found in detail here. In short, Question 1 limits citizens’ rights to request an absentee ballot, among other restrictive measures, and Question 2 allows concerned family or household members to petition the court to issue an extreme risk protection order that will temporarily remove dangerous weapons from an individual’s possession. These are important questions of public policy which I urge everyone reading this to consider carefully.
As someone who has professionally observed elections for 20 years, the mechanics of Maine’s elections are exceptionally well-run. Serving on the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee — which, among many other issues, oversees the Secretary of State’s Elections Division — I have learned a great deal about this topic, including how ballots are distributed to communities.
“This system works because it is thorough and fair“
— Rep. Marc Malon
Ballots are printed at a reputable Maine printshop in Augusta and are then sealed with security tape and clearly marked as ballots at the printer. From there they are marked additionally for tracking and chain of custody purposes. They are shipped directly, with tracking information, from the printer to Maine’s towns and cities using the U.S. Postal Service and UPS. Once they arrive at the municipality, the appropriate municipal official must sign for it. That official must then count the number of ballots received, confirm the number and submit a receipt directly to the Secretary of State’s Elections Division.
And that’s not all! Absentee ballot envelopes are printed separately at a different printer, and then sent — and tracked -– separately to towns across the state. This prevents them from being mixed up with ballots during shipment and provides extra security.
When a voter requests an absentee ballot, the clerk records the request, confirms the voter’s registration, marks the return envelope with the voter’s information and makes a record of sending the ballot to the voter. The absentee ballot must be returned in the envelope provided, then sealed and signed by the voter on the appropriate line. Upon return, the clerk will inspect the envelope and signature — and any affidavit and witness certification on the envelope — and determine whether the voter has returned the ballot appropriately. Then, they must mark whether the returned ballot was accepted or rejected.
“Your vote is yours, and it is sacred”
— Rep. Marc Malon
If there is an issue, the clerk is supposed to make a good-faith effort to contact the voter so that the voter may fix the issue if they are able. The envelope of an accepted ballot is not opened then, but rather stored securely until the time at which the town processes its absentee ballots — which can be no more than seven days before election day. Additionally, there is the added safeguard that all citizens who reside in Maine and wish to register to vote must provide ID and proof of residency upon registration.
This system works because it is thorough and fair. It has appropriate checks, balances and safeguards to ensure that when something goes wrong, election integrity is not compromised. And it ensures that every eligible Mainer is able to cast their vote and have it counted.
The safeguards and procedures behind how our elections are administered are essential to a free and fair democracy. In my committee, politicians sometimes introduce unnecessary bills to restrict voting rights or cause problems in the mechanics of our elections. Sometimes these politicians tell dishonest stories about election integrity or deny the legitimate results of elections, like Donald Trump did in 2020. Then they say we should pass restrictive measures because voters “have concerns.”
To me, the best way to alleviate voters’ concerns about our elections is to tell the truth about them. So when you see a proposal containing a mess of restrictions on voting, it is important to ask “why,” “is this really necessary,” and “is this information true and accurate?”
Your vote is yours, and it is sacred. The truth about Maine’s elections is that they are safe and secure, and they are set up so that you can exercise a freedom that generations of Americans fought for.
Happy voting.
Happy? Not Happy? The Biddeford Gazette welcomes feedback from our readers, especially when it comes to different opinions and perspectives. For more information, about how to send a Letter to the Editor or Guest Column, please contact us.
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Rep. Marc Malon is serving his second term in the Maine House, representing a portion of Biddeford. He serves as a member of the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee and the Housing and Economic Development Committee. He can be reached via email at marc.malon@legislature.maine.gov.
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Beginning today (Oct. 29) students across the Biddeford, Saco, and Dayton school districts are joining forces to help fight hunger in their own backyards through a new initiative called “Spare Change Fills Plates.” The campaign comes at a critical time, as SNAP benefits end for many local families, impacting children who already face food insecurity.
“In our three communities, one in two students is economically disadvantaged,” said Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Ray. “No one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, and while all students receive free breakfast and lunch at school, that support doesn’t cover dinners, snacks, or weekends. We’re proud of our students for taking action to help their peers and for showing that even the smallest acts—like donating spare change—can have a big impact.”
Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Ray with students Cordelia Kane of Biddeford High School, Kennedy Ray of Saco Middle School, and Camden Belanger of Dayton Consolidated School. (Contributed photo)
Led by students from each district, Spare Change Fills Plates encourages everyone to take part.
Donation containers and food collection boxes will be placed at each school to collect spare change and non-perishable food items. Local businesses are encouraged to participate by hosting a coin jar and/or a non-perishable food box to help extend the campaign’s reach.
“No one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from”
Every dollar and donated food item will support the local backpack programs and the community, ensuring that students and their families have meals beyond the school day.
Suggested food donations include pasta, sauce, canned meat (tuna, chicken, etc.), Tuna/Hamburger Helper, rice, beans, canned soup, vegetables, and fruit, pop-top canned goods (Chef Boyardee, etc.), oatmeal, pancake mix, instant potatoes, cereal, kid-friendly snacks such as granola/protein bars, microwave popcorn, peanut/sun butter and jelly, and crackers.
“Together, we can fill plates, lift spirits, and show the true power of community,” said Ray.
Once listed among Food & Wine’s Next Great Food Cities, Biddeford does not disappoint when it comes to the food and beverage scene. But between eats, treats and sips, what’s there to do in and around downtown? The answer is PLENTY!
Rift Arcade or The Gutter will take you back to simpler times. Rift Arcade features 40 coin-operated games from pinball to Pac-Man and everything in between with the mission to be an inclusive, affordable, and safe space for all ages.
Bowling on Main Street at The Gutter in Biddeford (Main Street Maine photo)
While you try to best the top scores, enjoy a curated cocktail from the full-service bar or elevated 1990s-inspired grub. If you’re passionate about arcade games and supporting a local business, you can buy into Rift’s NuMarket Campaign and get 120 percent back in credits to redeem (buy-in for $100, get $120 credits).
The Gutter takes a bigger step back in history, turning the first level of the historic Marble Block Building into a mid-century modern delight with wooden paneling, stained glass pendant lights over the bar, and eight classic 10-pin bowling lanes. The full-service bar and kitchen makes it a great place to strike up some fun.
Interested in catching some live entertainment, there are several well established businesses with a weekly roster for you to choose from. If you haven’t heard about it yet, the Rumors are true.
Upstairs from Mulligan’s, Rumors offers live shows Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, featuring a wide array of musical genres. If you’re looking for a laugh, The Comedy Mill might be more your speed. Also located at Mulligan’s, The Comedy Mill hosts open-mic nights for local standups to take a spin at getting laughs, but has also hosted events for nationally-known comics like Connor McGrath.
Just around the corner, Champions Sports Bar offers a little bit of everything for entertainment, including karaoke, trivia, DJ dance parties, and live local music. It’s also a great place to catch your favorite New England teams on the big screens or the flat screens.
While you’re distracted by the wide selection of books at Elements waiting for your morning cup to be poured, you may have missed that they host live local music every Friday and Saturday evening, as well as social events Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons. These curated events foster community while you sip a barista crafted beverage or a selection from the beer and wine list. Other businesses in town offering live music, trivia nights, karaoke, and more, include Cowbell, Lucky Pigeon Brewing Co., Banded Brewing, and Sacred Profane.
Tour the Riverwalk in Biddeford (City of Biddeford photo)
For those rainy, cold, or snowy days, however, head to The playLOT with your littles. In addition to several structured events throughout the week, this indoor playground offers endless fun and a place for parents to connect. Another great option for bigger littles is Mill Studio Arts. Miss Amy has curated an array of lessons and camps great for the creative kids and teens, with some workshops for the whole family and some just for adults too.
Another great place to explore is McArthur Library, which offers more than books for all ages. The wonderful librarians have curated daily events like educational workshops and book clubs to family-friendly activities and cultural programs. And if you have a library card, you can borrow more than books; check out digital books and audiobooks via Cloud Library and Hoopla, magazines, movies, music, comics, video games, and recreational equipment like fishing poles, snowshoes, lawn games, a telescope, binoculars, WiFi hotspots and more.
If learning about the city is more your speed, there are a few tour opportunities, each with a unique spin. The Biddeford Culinary Walking Tour features our food and beverage scene, combining the tastes of the town with its history, culture, and hometown stories. The Biddeford Mills Tour gives you a deeper look inside the mill buildings, with background on the textile industry and the workforce that populated the city. You can also delve deeper into the history at the Biddeford Mills Museum.
Learn about Biddeford’s history on a Biddeford Mills Tour (Photo: Main Street Maine)
You can also enjoy a slice of Biddeford history at one of the many stellar shows hosted by the City Theater. With its story dating back to 1860, the John Calvin Stevens designed theater is an iconic landmark dedicated to celebrating performance arts.
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Emma Bouthillette, a special contributor on behalf of Heart of Biddeford is a marketer, writer, yoga instructor, corgi mom, and native of Biddeford, Maine. In addition to publishing A Brief History of Biddeford with The History Press in 2017, her byline has appeared in the Portland Press Herald, Maine Women Magazine, and several other Maine-based publications.
Do you know anyone currently suffering from polio?
My guess is you probably don’t. But polio has existed throughout recorded human history, and the worst outbreak in the United States killed more than 3,000 people in 1952. It left countless others with lifelong health consequences.
Photo credit: South Dakota Department of Health
Finally, after years of research, Dr. Jonas Salk was able to develop the first effective polio vaccine. By 1961, only 161 cases in the U.S. remained. Salk was committed to ensuring that the vaccine was available to all, famously saying, “There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?”
Life-saving vaccines have helped to all but eradicate some of the most dangerous diseases that affect humans. Now this progress, and the decades-long progress made against diseases like polio, measles and mumps is in serious peril due to recent actions from the federal government.
Unfortunately, alongside the successful track record of vaccines, the anti-vaccine industry has sprouted up and flourished in recent years as a result of misinformation shared widely online. The unscientific views of anti-vaccine advocates gained an even stronger foothold due to the significant social disruption of the pandemic and the corrosive effect of social media. What was once an overwhelming bipartisan and nonpartisan societal agreement that vaccines are a good thing has sadly become polarized.
Alongside the successful track record of vaccines, the anti-vaccine industry has sprouted up and flourished in recent years as a result of misinformation shared widely online.
And the groups that push these beliefs are profiting from their lies. In 2023, the Informed Consent Action Network, an anti-vaccine group run by Del Bigtree, who is an ally of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., reported $23 million in revenue. Kennedy’s own organization, Children’s Health Defense, has also raked in millions through the years. They push lies blaming vaccines for autism and various other maladies, use it to sell products and propaganda, and get rich off vulnerable people getting sick.
This is why it is so distressing to witness Kennedy’s actions to gut the federal CDC and to stack vaccine advisory boards with anti-science skeptics, which will make it more difficult to effectively investigate rare but real cases of vaccine injury, and stifle necessary research and development. Right now, the federal CDC is attempting to restrict access to the COVID-19 vaccine for folks 65 and older and for younger people who have preexisting medical conditions, in contradiction to the fact-based guidance of experienced medical professionals.
So, what are we doing about it in Maine? Thankfully, we have strong vaccine protections in place. Certain vaccines are mandatory for children to attend Maine schools, with exemptions only allowed for medical reasons. This helps preserve the herd immunity necessary to prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases. The weakening of standards in other parts of the country like Florida is still alarming. But that gives us more reasons to do everything we can to protect ourselves and our communities.
Rep. Marc Malon says Maine is leading the way in ensuring public access for vaccinations
For the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine, the Mills Administration has issued a standing order to ensure that every Mainer who wants a vaccine can get one. The standing order essentially serves as a prescription for all Maine people, and it will allow them to get the shot at local pharmacies, clinics and health care offices.
It also requires state-regulated health insurance carriers, including those with MaineCare, to provide full coverage of the cost of the vaccine. The shot is recommended for all children from ages six months to 23 months, all individuals ages 18 and older, and children two to 18 years old based on risk factors – check with your children’s medical provider. If you want a vaccine, you should be able to receive your COVID-19 booster at your local pharmacy. I encourage folks to do so. I did it this week.
Vaccine opponents like to paint the decision to vaccinate as purely a personal choice. The problem is that these personal decisions can impact other families and broader communities. The miracle of vaccination is a miracle of community, and when communities need action, our history shows us that we take it because we care about not only our families, but those around us.
So, let’s band together once again, roll up our sleeves, literally, and not take for granted the hard work, sacrifices and medical advancements that have actually made America healthier for decades.
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Rep. Marc Malon is serving his second term in the Maine House, representing a portion of Biddeford. He serves as a member of the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee and the Housing and Economic Development Committee. He can be reached via email at marc.malon@legislature.maine.gov.
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In our not-too-distant future, the coast of Maine will look nothing like it does today — fewer beaches, many houses and businesses displaced, roads and utilities either abandoned or relocated further inland.
That’s a certainty, according to Dr. Cameron Wake, a University of New England professor who served as the keynote speaker during Tuesday’s SOS Save Our Shores conference, which was held at the Ferry Beach Conference and Retreat Center.
(R. Seaver Photo)
The only variables, Wake said, are how much and how fast the Atlantic Ocean rises and how quickly we realize that our treasured coastal communities and waterfronts require immediate action.
The annual SOS Saco Bay conference, now in its fourth year, has historically focused on strategies to mitigate the impact of sea rise on beaches and nearby properties in Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach and Scarborough.
SOS Saco Bay was formed six years ago by citizens concerned with the beach erosion that has taken homes and roads in Camp Ellis — still an unrealized issue. The conference has grown steadily to become a major information source and a starting point for organizing coastal residents and owners.
Roughly, 175 people attended this year’s conference.
Over the last two years — since the devastating January 2024 storms — citizen groups have formed in Hills Beach, Biddeford Pool and around the health of the Pool itself.
The Biddeford Coastal Preservation Coalition (BCPC) continues to build chapters along the coast. The city of Biddeford’s Sustainability Committee is focusing more on coastal issues, as well.
“The University of New England has emerged as a major source of support for coastal communities”
Sea rise is generally associated with global warming, but Wake also pointed to glacier melting as the wild card. It is now clear that glaciers are melting at an accelerated rate, faster even than temperatures. Wake displayed graphics of Greenland and some of the ice shelves in Antarctica and explained how feedback loops of warming air and water lead to ever-increasing calving of icebergs that float away and melt.
The University of New England has emerged as a major source of support for coastal communities, finding ample research opportunities for faculty and students.
Research projects include a recently published report on beach and dune loss and an on-going study of changes to the tidal pool at Biddeford Pool. This year, dozens of UNE students attended the conference and displayed their research on posters. The university has a new master’s degree track for “climate change leadership.”
To be sure, many of the conference workshops were clearly focused on the short term — new ways and materials to rebuild dunes and arrest beach erosion, information on how other coastal communities have managed their shorelines; and successes in protecting shore bird migration at Maine’s beaches. New this year were discussions about retreat, the most realistic and most difficult of the long-term responses to sea rise.
No answers were offered.
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Tom McPheeters is a life-long lover of Maine and a year-round resident of nearly three years. After a journalism career or 25 years at three newspapers in Ohio and New York State, Tom spent the last 30 years as a community organizer and advocate in Albany, NY. He lives in Biddeford Pool.
The Biddeford Gazette welcomes commentary and feedback from our readers. To learn more, please CONTACT US
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The Biddeford Saco Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual Ten Talks & Silent Auction on Wednesday, October 15. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at River Winds Farm and Estate in Saco.
Organizers say that “this much-anticipated community event blends thought-provoking talks with an engaging silent auction,” all in a lively, social atmosphere.
The event features 10 local speakers, each sharing a five-minute talk on a topic of their choice. The result is a fast-moving, inspiring program that highlights the voices and perspectives of our community.
Newly hired Biddeford City Manager Truc Dever will be one of the 10 speakers during this year’s event. (Jim Krause photo)
The wide range of speakers this year includes Biddeford’s new city administrator Truc Dever; Ellis Baum from Tiger Investment Services; Jessica Walter from Maine Trust for Local News; Rhona Deah from Rhona’s Beauty Shop and many more.
Before and after the presentations, guests will enjoy networking, food, drinks and the chance to bid on unique items in the silent auction. Donations range in value, from $25 to over $1,000, including gift certificates, experiences, services, and specialty products from local businesses.
“We’re excited to once again bring together local voices, businesses, and community members for an evening of ideas and generosity,” said Chamber Director Matt Lewis. “Ten Talks has become one of our signature events, showcasing the talent, creativity, and spirit that make our region thrive.”
The event is free and open to the public.
Funds raised through the silent auction support the Chamber’s work to strengthen and connect the Biddeford and Saco business community.
For more information, please contact the Biddeford+Saco Chamber of Commerce at 207-282-1567
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Marie Metcalf, 12, of Biddeford, has been named the STAR Student of September at Maine Connections Academy, a tuition-free online public school serving students in grades 7-12 statewide.
Marie began her first year at Maine Connections Academy as a 7th grader this year, and she couldn’t be happier as she balances online schooling and her ongoing passion for competing in gymnastics.
For the last four years, Marie has grown increasingly passionate about gymnastics.
What started as an athletic and creative outlet has turned into nine to 11 hours a week of dedicated training and practice. After her first year, she was invited to be on the team at Dudziak’s Gymnastics.
This year, Marie reached the gold level and is allowed to use her creativity and build her own floor routine. Marie and her family are excited to see heads turn at her first gold performance in November.
(Marie Metcalf, Contributed photo)
In her previous brick-and-mortar school setting, Marie was finding it difficult to dedicate enough time and attention to her educational needs while still allowing time to pursue her passion for gymnastics.
So, her family turned to Maine Connections Academy for the next step in her education. After only the first three weeks of classes, Marie’s mother, Lisa, saw the difference: “She is more engaged with her teachers, more engaged in the work, and is starting better study habits already.”
“We hope to hear more inspiring stories as she builds her career as a competitive gymnast locally, regionally, and potentially nationally one day,” said her instructors.
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About Maine Connections Academy:
Maine Connections Academy opened in 2014, and is a unique, tuition-free, online public school for students in grades 7-12 with 500 students enrolled. Authorized by the Maine Charter School Commission, Maine Connections Academy offers a high-quality educational experience that keeps students motivated and engaged in a safe, virtual learning environment. In addition to academics, teachers focus on building fundamental life skills, working closely with families to help students learn how they learn best. Here, students gain the skills and confidence they need to direct their own educational journey, learning to thrive in the real world by first learning how to be resourceful and resilient. For more information, call 1-833-591-0251 or visit www.MaineConnectionsAcademy.com.
THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 