By RANDY SEAVER, Editor The University of New England (UNE) and the Saco River Corridor Commission (SRCC) are both asking the York County Superior Court to dismiss a civil complaint that was filed against them by the city of Biddeford. The requests for dismissal were each filed earlier this month after the city formally brought its … Continue reading UNE, SRCC ask court to dismiss Biddeford’s complaint
Tag: Biddeford
City facing $500k in IRS penalties, fines
By RANDY SEAVER, Editor The city of Biddeford is now facing roughly $500,000 in penalties and fines from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). According to City Manager Truc Dever, the issue traces back to 2021 when the city failed to submit specific forms detailing employee health insurance. “Initially, the fines and penalties were approximately $700,000,” … Continue reading City facing $500k in IRS penalties, fines
Eastern fire substation moving through review process
By RANDY SEAVER, Editor NOTE: This story has been updated in order to clarify that city of Biddeford has not had any formal discussions with the owners of the Biddeford Pool volunteer fire station. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. It is an idea that has been discussed for nearly a decade, but … Continue reading Eastern fire substation moving through review process
The Fire of 1947’s devastating impact on Biddeford
Local author Susan Graham discusses her book that recounts devastating damage to Fortunes Rocks and other Biddeford neighborhoods By RANDY SEAVER, Editor It would become the largest natural disaster in Maine’s history, and it destroyed dozens of homes in many of Biddeford’s coastal neighborhoods. Overall, the “Great Fire of 1947” caused more than $30 million … Continue reading The Fire of 1947’s devastating impact on Biddeford
NEWSLETTER: Baby, it’s cold outside
Just as I was getting used to the lull of the holidays and a slower news pace during the early days of January, the local news cycle basically exploded and caught me a bit off guard. For the first time I can remember, I have seven stories in development and stacked up for publication. I … Continue reading NEWSLETTER: Baby, it’s cold outside
Lessard: ‘I am not so ready to hold hands and sing Kumbaya’
Finance Committee takes a closer look at how a downtown parking plan was funded By RANDY SEAVER, Editor A controversial and temporary downtown parking program will be reviewed by the Biddeford City Council at its next meeting, Feb. 3. As first reported in the Biddeford Gazette earlier this week, Mayor Liam LaFountain and members of the city … Continue reading Lessard: ‘I am not so ready to hold hands and sing Kumbaya’
Gazette creates ‘landing page’ for ICE info in Biddeford
At the advice and direction of several of our advisory board members, the Biddeford Gazette has created a special page for updates and community information regarding ramped up enforcement activities by the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) in Biddeford. According to multiple sources, ICE began an operation known as "Catch of the Day" … Continue reading Gazette creates ‘landing page’ for ICE info in Biddeford
Council rejects moratorium on mobile home park fees
By RANDY SEAVER, Editor Following more than an hour of passionate and sometimes tense debate, the Biddeford City Council voted 6-3 (Cote, Kurtz and Woods) Tuesday to reject a proposed 90-day moratorium on rental and lease fee increases at mobile home parks in the city. More than 20 mobile home park residents packed the council … Continue reading Council rejects moratorium on mobile home park fees
Council unanimously halts UNE development
By RANDY SEAVER, Editor Despite the impassioned pleas of some nuns from the St. Joseph’s Convent, the Biddeford City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to enact a temporary development moratorium on the University of New England’s Biddeford campus. As previously reported in the Gazette, Mayor Liam LaFountain proposed the moratorium and the creation of an ad-hoc … Continue reading Council unanimously halts UNE development
Mayor proposes moratorium on UNE development
By RANDY SEAVER, Editor Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain is proposing a temporary moratorium on all development projects at the University of New England’s Biddeford campus. LaFountain is also scheduled to nominate UNE president James Hebert to serve on an ad-hoc committee that will focus on development at the school’s Biddeford campus. During an interview with … Continue reading Mayor proposes moratorium on UNE development
WinterFest returns to Biddeford
Contributed Story | Leinani Farnsworth, Heart of Biddeford It's that time of years again! Locals and visitors of all ages are invited to the annual Biddeford WinterFest, a cabin-fever-busting weekend of outdoor fun, live entertainment, and community connection, returning Feb. 6–8, 2026. This year’s theme, “Unplug & Play,” highlights free, family-friendly, screen-free activities on Adams Street … Continue reading WinterFest returns to Biddeford
OPINION: Biddeford’s pain can be treated
By SAM PECOR, Special to the Gazette 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 … Continue reading OPINION: Biddeford’s pain can be treated
Tough Guys Don’t Dance
This is the first installment of the five-part 'Biddeford After Dark" series that was originally published in 2001 by the Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier By RANDY SEAVER, Editor [Oct. 2001] A heavy and ominous fog — the precursor of a cold and damp weekend — rolled westward over Biddeford early on Friday evening, and it remained like … Continue reading Tough Guys Don’t Dance
Mayor proposes planning board shakeup
[This story has been updated to include commentary from Alexa Plotkin, chair of Biddeford's planning board.] By RANDY SEAVER, Editor Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain won his campaign a few weeks ago by promising to prioritize transparency and accountability at City Hall. As part of that pledge, LaFountain has been seeking and interviewing people who have expressed … Continue reading Mayor proposes planning board shakeup
West Brook skating: an enduring legacy in Biddeford
By RANDY SEAVER, Editor The West Brook skating rink in Biddeford was first opened to the public roughly four weeks before Warren G. Harding was inaugurated as the 29th president of the United States in 1921. Although the outdoor rink has undergone some dramatic changes over the last century, the heart of its mission has … Continue reading West Brook skating: an enduring legacy in Biddeford
Saco official blasts Biddeford officials
By RANDY SEAVER, Editor Kevin Roche -- a former Saco city councilor and current member of the Saco School Board -- has publicly criticized Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain and the Biddeford City Council for the way they are handling the review of a large pier being proposed by the University of New England. In addition … Continue reading Saco official blasts Biddeford officials
OPINION: Bacon & Eggs
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 … Continue reading OPINION: Bacon & Eggs
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Santa Claus gets real
By RANDY SEAVER Originally published in Saco Bay News; Dec. 24, 2023 He’s known by many names. Some call him Father Christmas; others call him St. Nicholas or Kris Kringle. But here in North America, he is best known as Santa Claus. Just two days before the Christmas holiday this year, Santa made time to … Continue reading EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Santa Claus gets real
Biddeford changes sewer billing process
(Contributed story) Biddeford wastewater customers will now receive their wastewater (sewer) bills from Maine Water Company, a privately owned utility. According to a recent press release, the city transitioned from in-house billing to using Maine Water's billing and customer service expertise in order to “stabilize the administrative processes for sewer billing.” As part of the … Continue reading Biddeford changes sewer billing process
New committee will oversee development at UNE
By RANDY SEAVER, Editor As part of his campaign promise to increase government transparency, accountability and citizen participation, newly-elected Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain unveiled his plan to create a new ad-hoc committee that will oversee all development on the University of New England’s Biddeford campus. LaFountain’s plan was warmly received by both the city council … Continue reading New committee will oversee development at UNE
BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 