By RANDY SEAVER, Editor The Biddeford City Council finally got the chance Tuesday to discuss a controversial parking plan that has raised questions and eyebrows about city spending procedures. One councilor described the project as a significant breach of city procedures, but another councilor described the $20,000 project as “small potatoes,” when compared to other issues … Continue reading Council debates controversial parking plan
Tag: Biddeford
OPINION: Supporting our municipal workforce; how AI can help cities serve better
By MARTY GROHMAN, Special to the Gazette Our municipal employees are the backbone of our communities. They plow our streets at three in the morning during snowstorms. They respond to service requests, maintain our infrastructure, and keep our cities running smoothly day after day. These dedicated public servants often work with limited resources, facing growing … Continue reading OPINION: Supporting our municipal workforce; how AI can help cities serve better
Firefighters tackle blaze at Sleepy Hollow motel in Biddeford
Firefighters from several communities are now on scene at the former Sleepy Hollow Motel on Elm Street in Biddeford. A structure fire was reported shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday. One firefighter was removed from the scene by an ambulance from the Goodwins Mills fire department. It is unclear why the firefighter was taken from the … Continue reading Firefighters tackle blaze at Sleepy Hollow motel in Biddeford
BREAKING NEWS: IRS will waive $700K in penalties against Biddeford; city assessor taking new job
By RANDY SEAVER, Editor City officials in Biddeford are breathing a sigh of relief today after learning that the IRS will be waiving more than $500,000 in fees and penalties that were levied against the city two years ago. Furthermore, City Manager Truc Dever says the IRS will also refund roughly $200,000 that the city … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS: IRS will waive $700K in penalties against Biddeford; city assessor taking new job
Biddeford students headed to York County spelling bee
By KAREN GARNETT, Contributing Writer Students from Biddeford and Saco schools showcased their spelling skills last month during their respective school Spelling Bees, earning top honors and advancing to the York County Spelling Bee on February 9, 2026, at Saco Middle School. Due to limited space, the event is not open to the public. Biddeford … Continue reading Biddeford students headed to York County spelling bee
City seeks public input on recreation priorities
According to a press release, the city of Biddeford is inviting residents to share their feedback on recreation needs and priorities in Biddeford through a short public survey. The survey is designed to inform future decision-making on the use of the $6 million General Obligation Bond approved by voters in November 2025 to fund improvements … Continue reading City seeks public input on recreation priorities
OPINION: Helping parents afford childcare
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
UNE, SRCC ask court to dismiss Biddeford’s complaint
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
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
BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 