Students at Biddeford Primary School wish the Gazette’s editor a happy birthday.
What a truly awesome way to celebrate your birthday!
I used to be a second grader in Biddeford — a long, long time ago, And that — along with the fact that today is also the birthday of Dr. Seuss, I thought it was fitting to read “Oh the Places You’ll Go’ as part of the Read Across America initiative.
Thanks, kids! You made me cry!
Randy Seaver reads “Oh the Places You’ll Go” to some second graders at Biddeford Primary School
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR | Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He has been covering Biddeford news and politics for nearly three decades. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
It’s been an interesting, busy and somewhat exhausting week here at the Biddeford Gazette.
In fact, I was moving in some many directions that I forgot to send out this newsletter on Saturday.
My former boss David Flood always used to say there’s a lot more to running a newspaper than just writing and publishing news stories. I never appreciated that fact until I decided to launch my own publication.
Spreadsheets, meeting with our attorney, tracking expenses, insurance, content distribution, reviewing analytics and coordinating other people’s work.
It’s a lot. And I’m not getting any younger. More about that in a moment.
Running a news organization involves a lot more than writing news,
Beyond all the tedious business stuff (all of which is well outside of my comfort zone), our news and editorial content is growing by leaps and bounds.
Consider this: In February 2025 – about three months after the Gazette was created – we published 14 items on our website, not including our weekly obituaries.
Flash forward one year, and we have seen an increase of more than 300 percent! During the month of February 2026, we published 49 items on the Gazette’s site.
The good news is that nearly 40 percent of that material was generated by the community, not by us.
These community contributions include several letters to the editor, guest columns and high-quality news and feature pieces, such as last week’s story from Tammy Wells about a new partnership between the Catholic Church and the York County Jail, allowing inmates to celebrate weekly Mass.
State Rep. Marc Malon and State Sen. Henry Ingweresen also publish their regular monthly columns in the Gazette. Former mayor Marty Grohman submitted his own op-ed last month in the Gazette.
We are honored that so many people in the community regard the Gazette as a reliable and trusted source for community news and information.
Getting older; Biddeford Primary School Fun
On a personal note, this is my last day of being 61, and tomorrow (March 2) will be the first birthday that I wanted to avoid.
Every Sunday morning for the past 14 months, I spend a few hours editing, formatting and publishing local obituary notifications.
With increasing frequency, I am posting the obituaries of people who were younger than me at the time of their passing.
Statistically speaking, the average life expectancy of an American man is 76 years.
That means I likely have only 14 years or fewer remaining — for the rest of my life.
I remember clearly where I was 14 years ago today. It goes by really fast. Really fast.
All the advice from my friends, family and the expert gurus suggests that you should live each day to its fullest and focus on the things that make you happy.
So, I am pleased to announce that I have once again been invited to read to students in Ms. Jillian Palladino’s second-grade class at Biddeford Primary School. It’s the one part of my upcoming birthday that I am actually excited about.
Coincidentally, March 2 is also the birthday of Theodore Geisel, more commonly known as Dr. Seuss . . . what a wonderful confluence of events!
Quick recap and preview
Ward Five City Councilor David Kurtz (Seaver photo)
My favorite story this week comes from my thoroughly enjoyable interview with City Councilor David Kurtz. I will be doing similar interviews with each member of the city council over the next few weeks. (Chatting with City Councilors)
Our goal is to peel back the perfunctory layers to give our readers some deeper context about the men and women running our city.
Our most popular story this week – by far –was our exclusive coverage and tour of the Adams Point Family Housing project that is scheduled to open in April. That story blew up our email and social media accounts, underscoring Biddeford’s pressing need for more affordable housing.
What’s coming up?
I will cap off my birthday celebration tomorrow (March 2) by attending the first public hearing for the Institutional Zone Review Committee, which will be making recommendations about ongoing development at the University of New England’s Biddeford campus.
That meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Biddeford City Hall.
Hope to see you there! Have a great week!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He has been covering Biddeford news and politics for nearly three decades. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism
Students from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Sigma Sigma Phi (SSP) KAPPA Chapter continued a longstanding holiday tradition on Friday, Dec. 12, hosting their annual Holiday Giving Tree toy drive on UNE’s Biddeford Campus to support local families through the Biddeford Primary School.
Now in its seventh year, the drive has been held annually since 2019 and is coordinated in partnership with Biddeford school administrators and staff to ensure gifts reach families facing hardship during the holiday season.
This year’s effort resulted in the collection of more than 300 toys — twice the group’s target 150 — all donated by UNE students, faculty and staff and wrapped by student volunteers.
“The Christmas season is my favorite time of the year, and it was such a blessing to be a part of the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Sigma Sigma Phi KAPPA Chapter Holiday Giving Tree,” said event co-organizer Miranda Pomphrett (D.O., ’28). “I was touched by the generosity of the students and faculty as we came together to collect around 300 gifts during finals season, doubling our goal to support local families.”
Biddeford educators emphasized the importance of the partnership and its continuity.
“We are incredibly grateful to the University of New England students for coordinating this annual Toy Drive with our Resiliency Coordinator,” said Meghan Schrader, principal of Biddeford Primary School. “This partnership has allowed some of our families facing hardship to choose meaningful gifts for their children during the holiday season.
“The need in our community continues to grow, and we are so thankful for UNE’s commitment and for the many community members who step up year after year to make sure every child feels the joy of the season,” Schrader added.
Kin Ly, Pharm.D., Ed.D., advisor of UNE’s Sigma Sigma Phi chapter, said the toy drive reflects UNE’s broader commitment to service, care, and community well-being within its home communities, both during the holiday season and throughout the year.
“We are incredibly grateful to the University of New England students for coordinating this annual Toy Drive.”
– Megan Schrader, principal BPS
That relationship remains strong, she said, even as Maine’s only medical school has transitioned its primary location from UNE’s Biddeford Campus to a new home on the University’s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences — maintaining and strengthening its deep ties to the city and its residents.
“Our UNE COM students’ commitment to bridging the gap between our campus and the local community is truly inspiring,” remarked Ly, who is an associate clinical professor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Department of Biomedical Sciences. “By organizing this toy drive, they aren’t just distributing gifts — they are ensuring that every child in need at our partner Biddeford Primary School feels the warmth and joy of the season.”
That service ethos is echoed across the University, including within another annual holiday tradition in which UNE undergraduate students partner with Heart of Biddeford, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering an inclusive and sustainable downtown for the thriving former mill city, to decorate downtown with festive lights, helping bring warmth and cheer to Main Street during the winter months.
Throughout the semester, UNE’s medical students have also led additional service initiatives benefiting communities across southern Maine.
These include a ReSpectacle eyeglasses collection to support underserved individuals worldwide; a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater hosted by the American Geriatrics Society and Gerontological Society of America student chapter to raise funds for Southern Maine Hospice Center; and ongoing meal preparation by the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians student group for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Portland.
“(Our students’) commitment to serving others is commendable and reflects their strong sense of responsibility and empathy — great characteristics for our future osteopathic physicians,” Ly said.
BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 