By way of introduction, my name is Randy Seaver, and I am the editor of the Biddeford Gazette, a nonprofit digital news source that focuses on news and feature stories in the city of Biddeford.
I am writing to offer you and others at your organization my most sincere apology for a rather silly mistake I made late [yesterday] evening by sharing and promoting what now appears to be an act of plagiarism by another media outlet.
Yesterday (March 22), the Portland Press Herald published an op-ed column that was submitted to your paper by former Biddeford mayors Alan Casavant and Martin Grohman regarding the city of Biddeford and its handling of issues connected to the University of New England.
It was certainly an important and relevant piece, especially for those of us who live and work in the city of Biddeford.
The story — which remains (as of this writing) on the Biddeford Buzz site — DID NOT include any attribution or mention of your newspaper as the originating source. Instead, the Biddeford Buzz gave its readers the impression that it had some exclusive content to share.
I mistakenly shared that content with my own readers, describing it as being featured “only in the Biddeford Buzz.”
It now appears that the [Biddeford Buzz] simply “copied and pasted” the article from your site as their own content.
. . . what now appears to be an act of plagiarism by another media outlet.
A confirmation of fact
After being notified by one of our readers that I had apparently missed the story in the Portland Press Herald, I was able to immediately confirm today with both Alan Casavant and Martin Grohman that they sent their op-ed for publication only to your newspaper, not to the Biddeford Buzz or any other publication.
I should have known better | Our readers deserve better
With more than 30 years of journalism experience under my belt, I should have known better. I should have waited and confirmed the authenticity of the piece.
In the end, I violated several fundamental principles of professional journalism by sharing the Biddeford Buzz story on the Gazette’s own social media platforms.
I am embarrassed and apologize for my impulsivity and lack of judgment in this matter.
The Biddeford Gazette is not a large organization such as the New York Times, the Boston Globe or the Portland Press Herald.
Make no mistake. We are under no illusions of grandeur.
We’re just a small, independent, digital publication that covers just one community. And that community – and its trust — is far more important to us than anything else we do.
In this matter, I simply dropped the ball.
To earn and maintain that public trust, the Gazette is rigorously committed to public accountability and transparency in all of our affairs.
[Biddeford] – and its trust — is far more important to us than anything else we do.
What do we do to earn that public trust?
We adhere to strict disclosure and accountability protocols. Every story has a byline and contains contact information for the author.
We have established a volunteerCommunity Advisory Councilrepresenting diverse interests in our community. That advisory council is encouraged to provide us with critical feedback and guidance about our coverage and editorial policies;
We have a rigorous Corrections Policy. Every error is fixed but also noted for public reference.
We are far less than perfect, but we recognize our obligation to the people of Biddeford. Our readers come first. Our pride comes in at a distant second.
Trust is more than just a word. It is a commitment and something that needs to be earned daily.
How are we going to fix this?
1.) We have removed our social media post that previously shared and promoted the Biddeford Buzz “story”
2.) We will issue a public correction (a process already outlined in our established and publicly available editorial standards and policies) by sharing this explanatory note with our readers;
3.) While we are very proud of our collaborative approach with other media outlets by sharing their content (clearly labeled), we will no longer share or promote any material from the Biddeford Buzz.
4.) Finally, we will share this explanatory note with our readers.
Public confidence in the news media is at a record low across America.
In my opinion, the only way we can regain public trust and confidence in our profession is to eat, breathe and sleep surrounded by our dogged commitment to public accountability and transparency.
Trust is more than just a word. It is a commitment and something that needs to be earned daily.
Again, I deeply regret the error, and I invite you to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
For nearly 50 years, Biddeford’s most iconic ‘bootstrap developer” has demonstrated a deep love for the city.
By RANDY SEAVER | Editor
When looking back over the last 50 years of Biddeford’s history, there is no question that Doug Sanford played an extraordinarily pivotal and significant role in resurrecting a community that was brimming with potential but mired in despair.
WHERE HE MADE HIS MARK | Doug Sanford stands near the entrance of the North Dam Mill complex, part of the former Biddeford Textile Company that now offers luxury, riverfront apartments and scores of small, locally owned businesses. (Seaver photo)
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Sanford, 68, could easily be described as the walking, talking definition of a bootstrap real estate developer. His projects and fingerprints can be found throughout Biddeford, most notably his renovation and revitalization of several vacant downtown mill buildings.
A few critics – generally those who offer public commentary from the sidelines – routinely dismiss Sanford’s numerous contributions to Biddeford – painting a picture of a “wealthy real estate developer from away.”
That misinformed narrative hardly holds water.
Although Sanford has been able to successfully capitalize on many of his investments, he first arrived in Biddeford more than 45 years ago – fueled only by an excessive intake of caffeine, a meager savings account and an instant love and admiration for the city of Biddeford.
“Doug has this mix of tenacity and creativity that really made the mill redevelopment possible,” said Delilah Poupore, executive director of the Heart of Biddeford, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization of downtown Biddeford.
“He saw something in Biddeford when a lot of people didn’t, and then just kept finding ways to make it work, tenant by tenant,” Poupore added. “He’s always been willing to push a little further than what people expect, and I suppose that can open you up to criticism; but it’s also what got Biddeford on the map.”
Poupore credits Sanford as the “spark” that led to the kind of walkable, livable downtown that her organization is continually working to promote and develop.
“From the Heart of Biddeford perspective, Doug and [his wife] Lauren have been thoughtful partners in the revitalization of the downtown and in supporting our organization in ways that have truly mattered.”
Former Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant ran his first mayoral campaign in 2011 on a pledge to continue expanding on the foundational work of former Mayor Wallace Nutting and others who saw lots of potential in the city’s downtown area, despite the presence of a municipal trash incinerator that was located only 900 yards away from City Hall.
Casavant, a former history teacher at Biddeford High School, said he often taught his students about the historical impacts of industrialist John Rockerfeller and his ability to “see down the road and around the corner.”
“Doug Sanford had the same knack for seeing things that other people – for a variety of reasons – just could not see,” Casavant recalled.
“His reputation as a true visionary for Biddeford will certainly stand the test of time,” Casavant added. “He saw those shuttered mills as much more than just empty real estate. He saw the real potential, and he risked a lot to bring that vision to reality.”
Former newspaper publisher David Flood – another early believer in downtown Biddeford’s potential — described Sanford as a man of vision and hard work in his own 2015 blog post about the real estate developer who helped chart a new course for the city | Doug Sanford has been investing in Biddeford since the early 1980s.
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“He’s always been willing to push a little further than what people expect, and I suppose that can open you up to criticism; but it’s also what got Biddeford on the map.”
— Delilah Poupore, Heart of Biddeford
Humble beginnings and life lessons | A preacher’s son
Sanford was born as the youngest son of a modest church minister in central, rural New Hampshire. The family — including four other children and Sanford’s mother — had limited income and they relied on the generosity of the church, living in an adjacent parsonage building.
When Sanford was still quite young, he worked alongside his older brothers and his father, helping to build the family’s very first home in Auburn, New Hampshire, a small community located roughly 12 miles east of Manchester.
“You know, I do remember going to the town dump after dark and helping my father and brother load abandoned timbers that we used to build that house,” he laughed during a recent interview with the Gazette.
Sanford speaks fondly of his father and the lessons that he taught his children during one of the most socially turbulent periods of American history.
“The Vietnam War was consuming discussions everywhere,” Sanford recalled. “And then you had the assassinations of both Bobby Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King.
“My father was a steadying force during those difficult times. He offered sage wisdom for both his congregation and us kids.”
Sanford described his father as a “social justice leader,” a man who was proud of his role in coordinating a visit of several other New Hampshire ministers to Dr. King’s funeral.
“I learned a lot from my father,” Sanford recalled. “He was such a kind and decent man, always leading with his heart. Always willing to help those around him.”
Sanford and his wife, Lauren, were able to buy a 250-year-old, run-down house with 40 acres of land (but no mule) in the small, pastoral town of Shapleigh, Maine.
“They were offering owner financing, and that was a good thing because we had no [expletive] money,” he laughed. “The funniest part of that story is that we discovered – after a survey – that we actually had 120 acres.”
Sanford was now supporting his own young family by working in construction.
“We called that place the Sanford Family Project,” Sanford recalled with a chuckle. “When I say we had no money, I mean it. We had to come up with $4,000 cash for the down payment. I literally had quarters stacked on the table.”
Doug and Lauren raised three children, Cas, a 38-year-old attorney; Max, a 36-year-old veterinarian; and Jordan, a 33-year-old private equity manager.
“I call my kids a lawyer, a doctor and an Indian chief,” he laughed.
But today, Sanford’s top priority is spending time with his four grandchildren.
“I am very proud of my kids,” he said. “When I look back, I know –without hesitation – that your family is everything. Without them, I’m nothing.”
Now somewhat retired, Doug and Lauren enjoy time with their family on what was once a dairy farm in Waterford, a small community located in western Maine.
Welcome to Biddeford | A dicey proposition
Sanford first arrived in Biddeford in 1981. He didn’t have much money, but he had earned a decent credit score and a favorable commercial reputation from investments he made in a few small residential projects throughout New Hampshire.
The first property that caught Sanford’s eye in Biddeford was a large building owned by Herve and Romeo Binette on the corner of South and Elm streets.
“It was in tough shape, but I thought it had good bones,” Sanford said. “The very best part was that it had a ‘For Sale’ sign out front,” he laughed.
It was another owner-financed opportunity, and once again Sanford had to scramble and push all his chips to the center of the table to make the purchase work.
STILL WORKING THE PHONE | Doug Sanford takes a quick phone call during our interview at Time & Tides on Main Street in Biddeford (Photo by Randy Seaver)
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A little old lady who played piano
The only tenant that came with the building was an older woman who had actually been born and raised in the very same apartment on the building’s second-floor.
“She had one of those old Kerosene stoves that was also the unit’s heating source,” he recalled, rolling his eyes. “That stove scared the [expletive] out of me. I thought I was going to lose my entire investment in some terrible fire.”
According to Sanford, his new elderly tenant would often visit area nursing homes and play piano to entertain convalescent patients.
“You’re not going to believe this,” Sanford says, whispering and leaning over the table at the Time & Tides coffee shop on Main Street. “She only paid $25 per month in rent.”
“What the hell was I supposed to do?” he laughed, throwing his arms up in the air. “You think I’m going to evict a sweet little old lady who plays piano for senior citizens? Honest to God, she was literally born in that apartment. Talk about a public relations disaster.”
[At this point, we had to momentarily pause the interview because both Sanford and I were laughing so hard that it was difficult to speak.]
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She was only paying $25 per month in rent. You think I’m going to evict a sweet little old lady who plays piano for senior citizens? Honest to God, she was literally born in that apartment. Talk about a public relations disaster.”
— Doug Sanford
A passion for Biddeford | Despite the odds
Sanford’s legendary piece-by-piece approach to revitalizing Biddeford’s downtown core was anything but easy.
“The 1980s were a really difficult and challenging time for Biddeford,” Sanford recalled. “A lot of people were giving up hope about the city’s future.”
Even today, many of Biddeford’s older residents often reminisce about the heyday of downtown shopping on Main Street in the 1940s and 1950s, when retailers like Woolworth’s, Butler’s and Youland’s jewelry store catered to a growing population of hardworking and thrifty millworkers.
But as the popularity of suburban shopping malls – such as the Maine Mall in South Portland –continued to rise, Biddeford’s downtown retailers experienced declining revenues.
More heartbreaking was the hard reality that Biddeford’s once thriving downtown textile mills were now winding down, unable to keep pace with foreign imports and increasing government regulations.
Those mills were the central and driving force of Biddeford’s economy right up until the last remaining were laid off and the doors were permanently closed.
City leaders in the 1980s found themselves engulfed in a myriad of public policy challenges.
The textile mills – the city’s largest employer and taxpayer – were winding down and headed toward extinction.
New consumer shopping trends created a ripple-effect of bad news in the downtown area. Once thriving shops were now boarded up with “For Lease” signs plastered on plywood meant to deter vandals.
On top of all that, the mayor and city council were facing increasing pressure from state regulators about the municipal landfill that was located on the Andrews Road.
In retrospect, the city made the horrendous decision to allow the development of a trash-to-energy incinerator smack dab in the middle of a dying and neglected downtown.
“But who can really blame them?” asked one Biddeford resident, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “They were sold a bill of goods with all sorts of promises and guarantees. Hindsight is always 20-20.”
Biddeford embraced the MERC incinerator as a way to maybe help the struggling mills by offering ventilation steam for industrial heating capacity. MERC was going to be the city’s biggest taxpayer. They were going to create nearly 100 good-paying, union jobs.
The bad part? MERC became a regional trash incinerator, accepting municipal solid waste (MSW) from more than 23 other communities throughout Maine and New Hampshire.
The unending stench of burning trash – combined with frequent explosions created by improperly disposed propane tanks – set Biddeford on a collision course toward failure.
City politics descended into chaos. There was plenty of finger-pointing and even accusations of “good-old boys” selling their souls, hinting at corruption that was never proven.
From the outside, Biddeford looked like a war zone, a dysfunctional city unable to get out of its own way.
But Doug Sanford saw things differently.
A new path forward for Biddeford
“Yup, there were people who questioned my sanity,” Sanford laughed. “But I just couldn’t look away from the potential. I believed in the city of Biddeford even when so many leaders had stopped believing in Biddeford.”
Sanford started small and carefully. A building here and a building there, all the while developing solid working relationships with local and state officials.
He also forged relationships with community partners, including donations to nonprofit organizations throughout the city.
The legend is true: Sanford was eventually able to purchase the abandoned 380,000 square-foot North Dam mill complex – former home of the Biddeford Textile Company — for $1 per square-foot. But he was taking a huge personal risk.
“It was all on the line,” he recalled. “You know what they say? Go big or go home.”
Sanford had to rely on his own assets because commercial lenders had serious concerns about potential liability issues, especially because Sanford was preparing to renovate 150-year-old brick buildings along the shore of the Saco River.
“The banking guys looked at it as a liability, not an asset,” he said. “But I just decided to move forward.”
That was not Sanford’s last major investment in Biddeford.
It was all on the line. You know what they say? Go big or go home.”
When the Pepperell Mill closed a few years later, Sanford purchased that property, too. “The two mills shared the resources of a steam plant,” he explained.
Other – better financed — real estate developers also wanted that property. Even city leaders doubted Sanford’s ability to pull off such a large and complex investment.
Sanford – sometimes forced to fight tooth and nail with other developers and certain city officials — persisted and won.
He converted that former mill complex as a business incubator for several emerging local businesses such as Hyperlite and Angelrox.
Portland Pie Company later decided to offer a location in that building.
“The pieces fell together nicely,” Sanford said. “It was a big risk for me – and for the city of Biddeford. I’m glad it worked out.”
Earlier today, I spent some time with Chuck Cote at the Biddeford Community Center reviewing his amazing archive of local sports and political newspaper clippings and other fascinating memorabilia.
We plan to publish a full story tomorrow, including an interview, some fun pictures, video and a really fun walk down Biddeford’s memory lane as Chuck tells us about the Glory Days of St. Louis High School, and when a presidential candidate visited Biddeford more than 50 years ago.
In the meantime, take a quick look back at these young punks who ran — and won –seats on the Biddeford City Council on Mayor Babe Dutremble’s ticket in 1977.
THEN . . .
Roch AngersAlan CasavantDick Lambert
Wow . . . time goes so fast (I was 13 back then and delivering the Journal Tribune in my neighborhood.)
TODAY . . .
AngersCasavantLambert
If you love Biddeford history, check back with us tomorrow!
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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.
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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.
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.”
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“I am all about efficiency and saving the city money.”
— Fire Chief Larry Best
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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.
Tomorrow, October 1, the Biddeford Gazette will officially begin its coverage of the 2025 municipal elections in Biddeford.
It’s hard to explain why I am so excited about this time of year. I feel like a little kid on Christmas morning.
After working at other newspapers, I began covering news in Biddeford during the month of October, nearly 30 years ago. I jumped right in with almost no historical perspective.
Former mayor Alan Casavant (right) was not happy when I snapped this photo during a tense city council meeting.
I was immediately hooked and fascinated by the city’s political machinations, the stories and the legends.
I found myself intrigued by long-winded tales about people like ‘Babe” Dutremble, “Papa” Lausier and “Tiny” Frechette.
Sure, I was already a lifelong political junkie. At 10 years old, my parents had to pry me from the television as I watched the culmination of the Watergate scandal.
In middle school, I would brag that I had shaken hands with Ed Muskie and Jimmy Carter. Yup, I was a weird kid.
During my junior year of high school, I found myself working in an actual newsroom during a brief internship at the Journal Tribune. We had IBM Selectric typewriters. Everyone in the newsroom drank coffee, most of them smoked – at their desks.
Bob Melville, the city editor, wore his glasses perched on the end of the nose. He referred to me only as “kid.” He almost made me cry when he questioned my loose grasp of the English language.
We got lunches at Poli’s at Five Points, and profanity was acceptable in the workplace. I was working among titans who kept the city’s political players in check.
It was a glorious time. I knew then and there what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I wanted to be the next Carl Bernstein.
I feel a special connection to Biddeford City Hall. I am one of the lucky ones. I still remember smoke-filled, off-the-record meetings in “Ward Eight” with guys like Bob Dodge and Bruce Benway, the city’s first manager.
Secrets were carefully revealed. Suggestions were made. Deals were struck – all behind the scenes.
Former City Councilor George “Pete’ Lamontagne discusses a photo collection he helped curate for the Biddeford Mills Museum. The former president of the local textile workers union, (UNITE) Lamontagne became one of the most respected and well-liked members of the city council (Seaver photo)
Back then, there were 11 members of the city council. The city had four at-large representatives. I still remember the meeting when Mayor Donna Dion appointed Maria Martin to fill the vacancy created by her father’s death.
J. Richard “Dick” Martin was another of those local political legends.
Today, I still love the creak and groan of those old wooden stairs that lead to the Council Chamber on the third floor. The smell is the same. If you pause, silent — you can almost hear the whispers of those now ghosts who were so eager to climb those stairs for more than a century.
Today, I am honored to be entrusted by so many people to report the news that happens in Biddeford. It’s not an easy gig, and that’s what makes it great.
In the 1990s, I and my colleagues from the Tribune and Portland Press Herald sat in the back row during council meetings. We respected one another, but we were fiercely competitive.
We would have stabbed one another in the neck for an exclusive story. The people were well served by the local press. I got to work with top-notch reporters like Ted Cohen and Kelley Bouchard.
Over the years, I became more and more immersed in Biddeford politics. I got to interview people like former mayors Michael Cantara and Bonnie Pothier. I listened as former councilor Kitty Goodreau recalled a story about an angry businessman who threatened to “kneecap” a councilor because of a zoning change.
Former mayor Wallace Nutting (center) and former City Councilors John McCurry and Ken Farley devised a plan to “get tough” on MERC, the former waste-to-energy incinerator located in downtown Biddeford (Seaver photo)
Former mayor Alan Casavant once lost an election by one vote because he did not vote for himself (true story).
I vividly recall the battles like a council order to re-route all trash trucks through Saco and the predictable, regular chorus of “Peaker’s Squeakers,” the three men from Biddeford Pool who were politically aligned with Councilor Ron Peaker.
And I cannot forget the marvelous “after council” meetings that would take place at that round corner table tucked away near the bar at the Wonderbar Restaurant.
I would give almost anything to have Vinny Keely pour me another perfect pint of Guiness while I chatted, laughed and fought with people like Jim Grattelo, Kent Webster, Kyle Noble and even my old editor Bob Melville — who didn’t even remember that I briefly sat next to him in a newsroom.
Yup, I am one of the lucky ones.
The next chapter of Biddeford’s ongoing political story begins tomorrow. I only hope for two things:
First, that you find my coverage to be helpful in making your decisions about who should run our city for the next two years. Secondly, that you are unable to figure out which candidates I am personally supporting. Now, let the games begin.
NOTE:For more information about the local issues, elections and candidates, please click THIS LINK
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email at randy@randyseaver.com
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Several potential candidates have taken out qualifying nomination forms for mayor, city council and school committee races in Biddeford.
Some familiar names are hoping to make a political comeback, but there are also several people seeking office who have never served before.
Former City Councilors Roger Hurtubise, John McCurry and Bobby Mills are all hoping to return to the council. Former candidate Gregg Shapiro who ran for an at-large seat on the council in 2023 is making another run for that seat this year. Shapiro has also taken out papers for the Ward Six seat being vacated by Norman Belanger who will be running for mayor this year.
Bobby Mills/Facebook photo
Political newcomers Dominic Deschambault, David Kurtz, Jim LaBelle, Sterling Gray Roop and Abigail Woods have all expressed interest in city council seats. Deschambault has been previously elected to the school committee.
Current councilors Roger Beaupre, Dylan Doughty and Marc Lessard have all indicated that they will seek reelection.
Political heavyweight Lisa Vadnais — a current member of the school committee — has also taken out papers for one of two at-large seats on the council.
In the last two election cycles (2023 and 2021), no one candidate has earned more overall votes than Vadnais. In 2023, she earned 3,374 votes for school committee. The next highest vote-getter was At-Large Councilor Marc Lessard with 3,021 votes and Mayor Martin Grohman with 2,894 votes.
Two years earlier, Vadnais garnered 3,297 votes for her return to the school committee. The next highest vote-getter that year was former mayor Alan Casavant with 3,237 votes, easily fending off a challenge by Victoria Foley for a sixth consecutive term.
City Clerk Robin Patterson said her office will be making weekly updates regarding who has taken out papers and who has turned them in for verification. All elected positions in the city — including mayor, city council and school committee — are up for grabs.
In order to have their names on the November 4 ballot, all candidates must turn in their papers no later than 4p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025.
As of Tuesday, July 29, two candidates — Incumbent Martin Grohman and City Councilor Norman Belanger — have taken out papers for the mayor’s seat. Grohman is currently serving his first term and Belanger is a former council president.
CITY COUNCIL RACES:
Ward One. Incumbent Bill Emhiser will not seek a fourth term. Jim LaBelle, former director of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce, has expressed interest in that seat, but has not yet taken out nomination forms, according to the city clerk’s office.
Ward Two: Incumbent Scott Whiting announced on social media that he will not seek a third term. Former city council president John McCurry told the Gazette last week that he will seek a return to the council. Abigail Woods, a former city employee, announced on Facebook that she will also seek the seat. Both McCurry and Woods have taken out papers but not returned them.
Former Council President John McCurry, hoping to return to the Ward Two seat.
Ward Three: Incumbent Roger Beaupre is looking for a second term and has already submitted his nomination papers. So far, no other candidates have expressed interest in that seat.
Ward Four: Former Councilor Bobby Mills is once again hoping to make a political comeback. Mills resigned his council seat just four months after the last election, following an interaction with the Biddeford Police Department. Mills also resigned his position as York County Treasurer.
Just days after submitting his resignation, Mills tried to rescind that decision, saying he was pressured by Mayor Marty Grohman to resign. Grohman adamantly denied that claim. Dylan Doughty, a former Planning Board member, was unopposed in a special election to replace Mills. Doughty is hoping to keep the Ward Four seat.
Mills has already turned in his nomination forms.
Political Newcomer Abigail Woods is seeking the Ward 2 seat
Ward Five: Incumbent Neva Gross said she will not seek re-election after being appointed by Mayor Grohman to replace former councilor Julian Schalver who resigned the seat in April 2024. Dominic Deschambault submitted his name for consideration, but Grohman instead chose Gross to fill the seat.
Deschambault has been active in Biddeford policy for more than a decade. He previously served on the school committee; and was chair of the Biddeford Housing Authority’s board of directors. Deschambault also served on the Charter Revision Commitee, Capital Improvements and the Downtown Parking Committee.
Dominic Deschambault has taken out papers for Ward 5 and At-Large
Deschambault also took out papers for an at-large seat on the City Council. He told the Gazette Tuesday that he is not yet sure which seat he will pursue
David Kurtz, a Biddeford attorney and member of the city’s Waste Management Commission, said he has been attending council meetings for the last several months and would like to be more involved in the city’s policy making arena.
Ward Six: Former Councilor Roger Hurtubise is hoping to return to the council. Incumbent Norman Belanger is giving up the seat in order to run for mayor. Hurtubise has already turned in his nomination forms. Gregg Shapiro who ran unsuccessfully for an at-large seat on the council two years ago– has taken out papers for both Ward Six and at-large.
Ward Seven: City Council President Liam LaFountain has not yet taken out nomination forms.
At Large: There is a crowded field for the two available at-large seats. Marc Lessard is hoping to keep his seat. Incumbent Doris Ortiz will not be seeking reelection.
In addition to Deschambault, Lessard, Shapiro and Vadnais, Sterling Gray Roop of Pinewood Circle, has taken out nomination forms for one of the two at-large seats.
Hundreds of people flocked to downtown Biddeford on Saturday for the 13th annual Winterfest celebration. The giant sledding hill on Adams Street was once again a popular attraction, but there were also a lot of other things happening, including tours of the newly renovated City Hall clock tower, dancing and music.
The Adams Street sledding hill was again a big favorite during Biddeford’s Winterfest celebration (Seaver photo)
Volunteers from the New Life Church had several tables set up, giving away free donuts, hot chocolate and hats and mittens.
New Life Church volunteer Roland LaFlamme poses with a Winterfest mascot (his wife Maureen) Seaver photo
Children also had the opportunity to see the inside of a fire truck, city plow and the police department’s mobile Crime Scene Unit.
Outdoor temperatures remained above freezing, making this year’s celebration even more enjoyable.
Alannah, 11, gets her fingerprints made by Cpl. Matt Baldwin of the Biddeford Police Department inside the mobile crime scene unit (Seaver photo)
Larry Patoine, one of the event’s lead volunteers, said it will take less than four hours for volunteers to remove the giant sledding hill this evening before another winter storm descends on the city
This year’s hill was constructed with snow from the Five Points Shopping Center. Patoine says the snow from the hill will be disposed of near Rotary Park.
A long line of children anxiously await their chance to experience the giant sledding hill on Adams Street (Seaver photo)
Former mayor Alan Casavant, who helped organize the very first Winterfest (La Fete d’ Hiver) in 2012, said he was pleased to see the festival growing in popularity with each passing year.
“This is what community is all about,” Casavant said. “It’s fun just watching so many people having fun.”
Mayor Marty Grohman struts his stuff during Winterfest (Seaver photo)
A good turnout at this year’s Winterfest in Biddeford (Seaver photo)
Evelyn (left) and Zoe check out what it’s like to ride in a fire truck (Seaver photo)
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A group of former mayors and Biddeford’s current mayor are all hoping to run into you at one of several downtown restaurants on Wednesday evening (Feb. 5)
The “Mayor’s Night Out” event will actually be a fundraiser to support the family of Sgt. Jacob Wolterbeek, an 18-year veteran of the Biddeford Police Department who was killed in a December traffic accident on his way home from work.
Wolterbeek left behind his wife Julie and three young children under the age of 5.
Mayor Marty Grohman said he has been thinking of different ways to help Wolterbeek’s family over the past few weeks.
“I can’t imagine how hard it has been for them to absorb this awful loss,” Grohman said during a recent interview.
Grohman said he decided to get other mayors and a number of local restaurants involved in the project.
During the event, Grohman and former mayors Alan Casavant and Donna Dion, and Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail will join diners for conversation and connection by visiting participating Biddeford businesses throughout the evening.
Participants will have the opportunity to use a QR code on their smartphones at each location to make a donation to the Trooper Black Foundation, a non-profit organization that will direct the proceeds to the Wolterbeek family.
Some of the participating restaurants and businesses will also donate a portion of their sales during the event to support the Wolterbeek family, according to a press release from the city.
Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail said she was happy to be part of the event. “The cities of Biddeford and Saco are essentially one community, and we’re always looking out for each other,” she said.
Participating business include Cowbell Burger, Sacred Profane, Fish & Whistle, Pizza By Alex, The Garden Bar, Apero, OG’s, Ore Nell’s Barbecue, Banded Brewing, Brickyard Hollow, Round Turn Distilling and the Super Sub Shop.
“Biddeford is a city that shows up for its own,” Grohman said. “This event will be a testament to the strength and compassion of our community. This event is about more than fundraising; it’s about honoring Jacob’s service and standing by his family in their time of need. I hope to see neighbors, friends, and families out for a great cause.”
Former mayor Alan Casavant agreed with Grohman.
“When something like this happens, we all wonder how we can help, how we can come together as a community,” Casavant said. “I like being downtown, so I was more than happy to be involved, and hoping to see a lot of people.”
Those who would like to support the Wolterbeek family but cannot participate in the event may direct donations to the Trooper Black Foundation at https://trooperblackfoundation.orgthrough February 15.
Checks may also be mailed to the Trooper Black Foundation (PO Box 104, Cape Neddick, Maine 03902) and should be marked as designated for the Wolterbeek family.
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BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 