NEWSLETTER | Paradise City

March 1, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

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.

When Rep. Ryan Fecteau – Speaker of the Maine House — wanted to share his thoughts about recent ICE enforcement efforts in Maine, he asked the Gazette to publish his column.

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!

_________________

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

Never miss an update! Subscribe for free today!

THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism

Our editorial standards and policies: Biddeford Gazette | Standards & Policies

Salamone drops out of state senate race

February 23, 2026March 7, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

Political newcomer John Salamone, a Republican who recently moved to Hollis from Portland, announced on social media Monday that he is withdrawing from the Dist. 32 State Senate race.

In a brief post on his personal Facebook page, Salamone wrote: “After a great deal of reflection and prayer, I’ve decided to withdraw my campaign for state senate.”

Salamone was the second candidate to announce a challenge to incumbent Henry Ingwersen, a Democrat who is hoping for a third term. Jason Litalien, a former Biddeford mayoral candidate, remains in the race as an independent, unenrolled candidate.

“Over the past several months, I’ve been humbled by the encouragement and generosity of so many people who believe in our shared vision for Maine,” Salamone wrote. “Your support, whether through kind words, time, or financial contributions, has meant more to me than I can express.”

Salamone said he and his wife recently welcomed a newborn daughter into the world.

“As any parent knows, this is a profound and life-altering moment,” Salamone said. “The responsibility of fatherhood is immediate, personal, and sacred. At this time, my focus needs to be fully on my family.”

Salamone said he cares deeply about the direction of state government. His decision to withdraw, he said, was not easy.

“I remain committed to the principles we discussed, and I look forward to continuing to engage in our community as my capacity allows,” he added.

_________________

Never miss an update! Subscribe for free today!

THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE |A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism

Our editorial standards and policies: Biddeford Gazette | Standards & Policies

Ingwersen kicks off campaign in Biddeford

February 15, 2026February 15, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

A small group — including some other legislators — gathered Sunday at Pizza By Alex in Biddeford to help State Sen. Henry Ingwersen (D-Arundel) launch his campaign for a third consecutive term in the Maine State Senate.

*State Sen. Henry Ingwersen (right) shares a laugh with State Rep. Malon (D-Biddeford) during Ingwersen’s campaign kickoff party in Biddeford (Seaver photo)*

Among those attending were State Sen. Jill Duson (R-Portland) and Rep. Marc Malon (D-Biddeford). Biddeford City Councilor David Kurtz attended the event with him mother, and Richard Lambert, a former Biddeford City Councilor, said he was happy to be supporting Ingwersen.

“He’s been doing some good stuff in the Legislature,” Lambert said of Ingwersen.

*Ingwersen chats with River Trudo (10) of Biddeford and her mother Rochelle Trudo (Seaver photo)*

Kayla Lewis — an associate member of the Biddeford Planning Board — told the crowd that she is serving as Ingwersen’s “campaign captain” in Biddeford and drew rousing applause when she addressed the gathering.

“This meeting shows the collective power and the collective impact that happens when small groups gather,” Lewis told the crowd as she formally introduced Ingwersen.

*Kayla Lewis (right) chats with a fellow supporter during Ingwersen’s campaign kickoff party (Seaver photo)*

“It’s great to see so many friendly faces,” Ingwersen said.

____________________

_______________________

THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE |A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism

Our editorial standards and policies: Biddeford Gazette | Standards & Policies

Never miss an update! Subscribe for free today!

State senate race heats up in Biddeford

February 15, 2026February 16, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

This year’s District 32 State Senate race could become a crowded affair.

So far, three candidates have announced their intentions to seek the senate seat that represents Biddeford, Arundel, Dayton, Lyman and Hollis in the Maine Legislature.

The Gazette learned this week that there is a possibility more candidates may be coming forward in the near future for that seat.

The declared candidates now include incumbent Democrat Henry Ingwersen of Arundel; Republican newcomer John Salamone of Hollis; and Independent Jason Litalien, an unenrolled attorney from Biddeford.

We spoke recently with Ingwersen and Litalien, but Salamone was unavailable for an interview at press time, saying he would contact us in the near future.

Ingwersen, a retired public-school teacher and a beekeeper, is now serving his second consecutive term in the senate. He is senate chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and also serves on the on the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee.

He previously served one term in the Maine House of Representatives from 2018 to 2020, saying he got into politics because of his “frustration” with President Donald Trump, a brash and outspoken Republican.

Ingwersen, 75, says he hopes to win a third term in the senate in order to continue working on issues that matter to his constituents.

“I’m running to continue the work that I’ve always done to build a stronger, more affordable and caring Maine that brings our communities together,” Ingwersen said. “Now, in these impossible times, I feel more strongly than ever before that I am called to support affordable, accessible health care for all, fight for funding for affordable child care for Maine families, take on food insecurity by supporting universal free school meals, and much more.”

He said he enjoys listening to my constituents, and helping them when he is able. “It is what I do, and will keep doing.” Ingwersen said.

Litalien, 50, told the Gazette that he places a strong value on community service.

“Ever since I was a little boy, I have wanted to serve the public,” he said. “Right now, the political climate is so toxic, and that’s why I’m running as an independent candidate. We have to stop pointing fingers at each other and focus on meeting the needs of Maine people.”

Litalien, a veteran who served in the United States Air Force, made his name well-known in the city by running a very strong challenge against former Mayor Alan Casavant in 2019, losing that race by only 107 votes (2,234-2127).

Two years prior, Litalien ran against Casavant as a write-candidate and received only 78 votes.

In 2023, Litalien challenged and lost to former police chief Roger Beaupre for the Ward Three seat on the city council.

Litalien said his number one issue is public education.

“We need to take a serious look at why our students all across Maine are scoring below national averages,” he said.

But education is not Litalien’s only concern.

“It is an atrocity to see all the new taxes that our representatives are approving in Augusta,” Litalien said.

Litalien blames many of Maine’s problems on what he described as a fractured and dysfunctional two-party system.

“What matters to me is fixing the problem, not the color of your necktie,” he said. “Too many people are now blinded by party lines and party allegiance.”

Litalien said today’s publics school students are being taught what to think rather than how to think.

“We have some of the highest per-pupil costs in the country and some of the lowest student test scores,” he said. “That just doesn’t make sense to me.”

Both Ingwersen and Litalien are running as Clean Election candidates as opposed to traditionally funded campaigns.

“I don’t like owing anyone, and this way I am not beholden to anyone or any special interest,” Litalien said.

Ingwersen has previously described Maine’s Clean Elections program as “a valuable tool” that opens the doors to more candidates who might not otherwise be able to seek public office. “It levels the playing field,” he said.

Ingwersen said he is proud of his accomplishments over the last four years in the senate, pointing to his commitment to fully funding MaineCare and sponsoring a bill to create a network of regional resource hubs to connect child care providers, employers, and families.

He also pointed to a bill he sponsored that would continue the Child Care Employment Award to help pay the child care tuition of those employed as child care professionals.

“I opposed proposed budget cuts to child care worker wage supplements, child care tuition coverage, and Head Start funding, making sure that they were put back into the budget,” Ingwersen said.

When it comes to Maine’s economy, Ingwersen said he worked hard to maintain the state’s commitment to cities and towns by keeping revenue sharing at five percent and funding 55 percent of K-12 education.

“Prior to 2018, revenue sharing was at two percent, and state funding for education was at 49 percent. We increased both of these things over the years and have embedded them in the budget,” Ingwersen said.

There’s a lot more that needs to be done to help the people of Maine, Ingwersen said.

Litalien said the Legislature needs to be “more creative” in addressing problems, and stop creating new taxes such as a recent new tax levied on streaming services such as Netflix.

“When it comes to Augusta, it’s just taxes, taxes and more taxes,” Litalien said. “It has to stop. It’s not sustainable for hard-working Maine families.”

For more information about Ingwersen’s campaign, you may visit his website, Henry for Senate.

For more information about Litalien’s campaign, you may visit his website, Jason for Maine

For more information about Salamone’s campaign, you may visit his website, Salamone for Senate.

This story will be updated as the campaigns continue and new information becomes available.

Correction: Prior to 2018, the state share local K-12 public schools was at 49 percent, not 55 percent which is today’s rate. It was a clerical error, and the story has been updated. We apologize for the mistake

________________________

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

______________________

THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE |A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism

Our editorial standards and policies: Biddeford Gazette | Standards & Policies

Never miss an update! Subscribe for free today!

OPINION: Helping parents afford childcare

January 29, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

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.

___________

State Sen. Henry Ingwersen represents the communities of Arundel, Biddeford, Dayton, Hollis and Lyman in the Maine Senate. (District 32)

He may be contacted at henry.ingwersen@legislature.maine.gov

Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!

Stop the Grinch! Protect your real estate

December 22, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

By State Sen. HENRY INGWERSEN, Special to the Gazette

This time of year, we’re all familiar with the Grinch who, seeking to ruin the holidays, sneaks around and tries to steal Christmas from the good people of Whoville.

However, on December 3, I gaveled in the final meeting of a commission that had its eye on another crafty fellow – the fraudster that fakes property deeds, stealing land and homes from right underneath buyers and sellers alike. Known as a “seller impersonator,” he is often a fraudulent seller who fakes a deed for a property, sells it to a legitimate buyer and walks away with the money, causing harm and legal headaches to hardworking Mainers.

Earlier this year, I introduced legislation to create the Deed Fraud Prevention Commission. LD 353 received unanimous, bipartisan support in the Judiciary Committee and Maine Senate. It was signed into law on July 1.

Commission members included licensed realtors, title attorneys, registrars of deeds, representatives of law enforcement and banking, the Secretary of State’s office and bipartisan legislators. I was honored to serve as the Senate Chair of the Commission.

Throughout the fall, my fellow commission members and I met in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the crime of deed fraud, how prevalent it is in Maine and how it occurs. We also learned about existing criminal penalties for deed fraud; available educational materials for awareness and prevention; and recent studies, recommendations and legislation from other states designed to prevent and provide relief from deed fraud.

Commission members and invited guests explained the duties and practices involved in property sales in Maine, including identity verification, notarization, the scope of title insurance and recording of deeds. They also spoke of their experiences and perspectives of deed fraud in Maine.

During our meetings, we found that seller impersonation fraud is a growing, complicated problem nationwide and in Maine. We learned that “red flags” warning of possible deed fraud can include, among other things, a vacant land transaction, a push for a hurried sale at below market value, the seller only communicating electronically and an all-cash sale. Also, due to the difficulties of locating and holding responsible perpetrators of deed fraud and unwinding the fraudulent deed once it is recorded, we found that prevention is crucial.

_______________

We found that seller impersonation fraud is a growing,

complicated problem nationwide and in Maine.

__________

At our final meeting, we discussed and voted on our proposed findings and recommendations. By the end of the month, we’ll finalize our report, which we’ll present to the Judiciary Committee in the new year, including any recommendations for legislation the Committee can develop and propose to the full Legislature.

With the rise in deed fraud, it is critical that we take action to protect fellow Mainers from predatory scammers, especially for those who have worked hard and lived in their homes for decades or held onto vacant property as a nest egg for later in life. Through this thoughtful commission, we developed a fuller understanding of the problem and how we might be able to address it in the next legislative session.

If you want to learn more about our work, you can find all of the Commission’s materials online here. You can watch the archived audio-visual recordings of the meetings and read and review the background materials. Once it’s available, you can also read the final report.

Along with our findings and recommendations, I hope that these materials help raise public awareness about these kinds of real estate scams. After all, as we learned, it is much harder to prevent them if folks aren’t aware of them.

I want to wish you all a happy new year and blessings for a healthy and positive 2026.

__________________

Henry Ingwersen is serving his second term as the state senator representing District 32, which includes Biddeford, Arundel, Dayton, Hollis and Lyman.

He may be contacted at Henry.Ingwersen@legislature.maine.gov.

Never miss another update! Subscribe to the Biddeford Gazette!

Ingwersen plans to address mental health in Maine’s heritage industries

December 7, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

As one of the most rural states in the country, the state of Maine is well known for its so-called “heritage industries” that rely on outdoor occupations, such as farming, fishing and logging.

Those industries have long driven Maine’s economy but they also present a few — somewhat hidden – challenges.

Overall, the bulk of those working in Maine’s “heritage” industries are men, and those physically-demanding jobs often come attached with significant mental health strains.

*Workers in Maine’s “heritage industries” face lack of mental health resources. (Associated Press Photo)*

“We know from years of statistical data that men are far less likely to reach out for mental health assistance than women,” explains State Sen. Henry Ingwersen (D-Biddeford). “And that is having an impact on our economy and our overall quality of living.”

Ingwersen is the senate chair of the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee. He is also a member of the Joint Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee.

Those two roles intersect when it comes to addressing the health needs of those who work in one of Maine’s often rigorous and demanding heritage industries.

“Simply put, there are not a lot of mental health resources for people employed in small farming and fishing operations,” Ingwersen said. “Furthermore, men are often reluctant to ask for help.”

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), the suicide rate among males in 2023 was approximately four times higher than the rate among females.

Men make up roughly 50 percent of the population but nearly 80 percent of suicides.

To address this issue, Ingwersen plans to submit new legislation when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

*State Sen. Henry Ingwersen (D-Biddeford)*

That legislation will focus on creating a subcommittee to examine and address the lack of mental health resources in Maine’s heritage industries.

The bill — “Resolve, to Establish a Working Group to Prioritize Mental Health and Wellness Resources Within Maine’s Heritage Industries,” — was approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council in a November 20 meeting.

“As senate chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and a member of the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, I’ve had a front row seat to the ways health intersects with our heritage industries,” Ingwersen said. “We all know that farming, fishing and logging are physically demanding industries. But there is less awareness of the significant mental strain on these workers, which leads to burnout, stress — or worse.

“It is critical that we take care of the people who power our economy, help us put food on tables and provide the material to build our homes.”

As proposed, the bill would create a working group to convene and work on policy recommendations to address the mental health needs of Maine’s workers in heritage industries.

Earlier this year, Ingwersen attended and spoke at Maine’s first-ever Land and Sea Farmer Wellness Forum, which was rooted in the work of The University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

The Extension recently conducted a survey, revealing that 61 percent of respondents from agriculture, aquaculture and wild-harvest fisheries identified the need for increased public education to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health.

Survey data showed that suicide rates remain higher for agriculture, fishing and forestry occupation groups. Many farmers and fishermen have no employer-provided health insurance.

“These industries are critical to Maine’s economy and yet we are facing some serious vulnerabilities that – as a cumulative effect – could disrupt the flow of the food we eat and the materials we use to build our homes,” Ingwersen said.

______________

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!

Celebrating Thanksgiving with gratitude

November 21, 2025November 21, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

There are many resources available for those struggling with food insecurity

By STATE SEN. HENRY INGWERSEN Special 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.

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.

___________

Henry Ingwersen is serving his second term as the state senator representing District 32, which includes Biddeford, Arundel, Dayton, Hollis and Lyman.

He may be contacted at Henry.Ingwersen@legislature.maine.gov.

Ingwersen working to stabilize childcare costs

November 1, 2025February 11, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

Contributed Story

State Sen. Henry Ingwersen (D-Biddeford) and Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Brunswick) visited the St. Louis Child Development Center in Biddeford, as part of a statewide Child Care Listening Tour.

“As the Senate chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, I know that access to affordable child care remains a top priority across the district,” Ingwersen said. “This time of year, I have the opportunity to be in the district, listening directly to the folks who do this great work.

*Ingwersen (left) listens to staff at the St. Louis Child Development Center in Biddeford.*

“They know what the issues are, and I am grateful for the chance to listen to them and zero in on what the actual problems are so that we can formulate a way to solve them. Affordable childcare makes the economy and the community healthier and better. It’s good for the future of our state.”

Daughtry is conducting the listening tour that includes stops at community childcare centers, public pre-K partnerships, Head Start programs and nonprofit organizations across the state.

“Affordable childcare makes
the economy and the community
healthier and better.”
— State Sen. Henry Ingwersen

The goal is to spotlight innovative solutions, identify gaps in service and elevate the voices of those most impacted by Maine’s child care crisis. Parents, businesses and early educators are invited to complete a survey to share their experiences: http://www.tinyurl.com/supportkidssupportmaine.

The insights gathered will help inform future legislation and policy aimed at expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care for all Maine families.

Ingwersen has two child care-related bills that have been carried over to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Maine Legislature. LD 1728, “An Act to Establish the Maine Child Care Affordability Program Advisory Board,” seeks to establish a board to advise the Office of Child and Family Services on the Maine Child Care Affordability Program. The bill awaits further action and work in the Health and Human Services Committee.

LD 1859, “An Act to Improve Access to Child Care and Early Childhood Education by Establishing Regional Resource Hubs,” seeks to establish, through contracts with community entities, early childhood learning and development resource hubs. Earlier this year, it received unanimous, bipartisan support in the Maine Senate. It now awaits funding on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Table.

Additionally, Ingwersen plans to introduce “An Act to Secure and Sustain the Maine Child Care Affordability Program,” which was approved for introduction by the Legislative Council on October 23.

As proposed, the bill would allow Maine to protect a proven strategy for stabilizing the childcare workforce, supporting businesses and ensuring children of early childhood programs have access to high-quality care. It will be drafted, referenced and worked on in the Second Regular Session.

_______

Henry Ingwersen is serving his second term, representing District 32 in the Maine Senate, which includes Biddeford and the surrounding communities of Arundel, Dayton, Hollis and Lyman. He may be reached at Henry.Ingwersen@legislature.maine.gov

Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!

Political gamesmanship threatens vulnerable Mainers

March 3, 2025April 1, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

By HENRY INGWERSEN, State senator

The last time I wrote to you, I spoke about the importance of MaineCare, our state’s version of the Medicaid program. MaineCare provides health care to low-income families and children, people with disabilities and pregnant women, and is overwhelmingly supported by Maine people.

I also wrote about how Maine faces the same challenge as many red and blue states – the cost of health care is rising and state budgets are having a hard time keeping up.

This fiscal year, which runs until the end of June 2025, we face a $117 million gap in MaineCare. If unaddressed, providers already facing financial challenges would be put in an even more difficult situation. In some dire cases, providers could be forced to shut their doors – and when those doors shut, they shut for all of us.

In the last month, members of the Legislature’s budget committee worked hard to reach a bipartisan agreement on a supplemental budget that would fix this gap and get funding out the door quickly.

I was very pleased when, in early February, they reached a deal and voted unanimously to recommend passage of the supplemental budget to the full legislature. However, my Republican colleagues suddenly walked back on the deal and began insisting that to earn their support, we would need to make cuts to MaineCare and housing assistance.

While I disagree with these cuts, these are large policy conversations that can certainly be had as the Legislature moves to construct a biennial budget – which covers the next two fiscal years – in the coming weeks. Right now, Maine people are counting on us to keep MaineCare afloat and to do it quickly.

A unique aspect of Maine law requires a two-thirds vote in the Maine House and Senate to approve emergency funding, which means strong, bipartisan support. Without this two-thirds vote needed to get this funding out the door, the Department of Health and Human Services will begin cutting back funds owed to hospitals, nursing homes, and home and community-based services as early as March.

We have continued to hold votes, and Republicans continue to oppose the plan they had previously agreed to. The more votes we take, the less I understand why there is opposition.
–State Sen. Henry Ingwersen

We have continued to hold votes, and Republicans continue to oppose the plan they had previously agreed to. The more votes we take, the less I understand why there is opposition. Our most rural communities rely heavily on keeping MaineCare functional – 45 percent of folks in Washington County; 40 percent in Aroostook County and an average of 37 percent across Oxford, Franklin, Somerset and Piscataquis counties are enrolled in MaineCare.

Many of us in the Legislature are here to make sure that our rural areas are not left behind.

In addition to the people covered by MaineCare in these areas, the small health care providers that strengthen our small towns are at most risk of harm. The Maine Primary Care Association recently told the Press Herald, “Health centers operate in small, rural towns in each county, and are also present and essential in Maine’s bigger cities; like many other health care providers, they are not designed to weather endless instability in payments.”

As I’ve learned in my time on the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee, Maine already has many “care deserts” across our state, forcing folks to travel long distances to get the services they need. I am deeply worried that not approving this funding means the problem would only get worse.

Every day in Augusta, as I chair the Health and Human Services Committee, I hear more stories of folks struggling with access to health care. Folks like Vickie, from Norway, who shared how her insurance did not cover services she felt would have made a real difference in her mental health care.

We need to be moving forward on health care access, not backward. I stand ready to support critical funding for MaineCare, and I hope my colleagues will join me to find a path forward for Maine people.

The people of my district and the rest of Maine are not the least bit interested in the political games taking place here in Augusta. They want to make sure that they continue to get the quality health care they deserve for their families. They deserve no less from us.

As always, if you have any questions about the information here or if you would like to reach out with a comment, question or concern, you can reach out to me any time. If you want to stay up-to-date on what we’re working on in Augusta, please sign up for my email newsletter at mainesenate.org or visit my Facebook page at facebook.com/IngwersenForMaine.

Henry Ingwersen represents District 32 in the Maine Senate, which includes Biddeford and the surrounding communities of Arundel, Dayton, Hollis and Lyman. He can be reached at Henry.Ingwersen@legislature.maine.gov or 207-287-1515

Editor’s note: The views expressed here are those of the author. If you would like to contribute an opinion column, please contact us at biddefordgazette@gmail.com This column was also published in the Biddeford-Saco Courier

Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!