Pendleton takes on new role

March 20, 2026March 20, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

A well-known community leader and volunteer, Craig Pendleton has joined the Biddeford Gazette’s board of directors

**CRAIG PENDLETON** | *Contributed Photo*

BIDDEFORD | Biddeford Gazette, Inc. – the parent company of the Biddeford Gazette — is pleased to announce that Craig Pendleton of Old Orchard Beach has formally joined the Gazette’s board of directors as the corporation’s treasurer.

In his role as treasurer, Pendleton will have joint control and oversight of all financial accounts maintained by the Biddeford-based, non-profit news organization, serving as the corporation’s Chief Financial Officer.

The board of directors also voted Thursday to appoint Pendleton to serve as chair of the Biddeford Gazette’s Community Advisory Council.

“We are thrilled that Craig has agreed to share his time and resources with us as we continue our journey of building a community-driven, non-profit news organization,” said Laura Seaver, president and CEO of Biddeford Gazette, Inc.

“Craig brings to the table decades of proven and effective community leadership in the business, non-profit and government sectors,” Seaver added. “His resume is impressive and speaks for itself.”

Pendleton, a retired commercial fisherman and business leader, was the founder and coordinating director of the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, a non-profit organization designed to bring together commercial fishing interests, academic researchers and government regulatory officials to help develop a collaborative approach in Gulf of Maine’s fisheries management.

Pendleton later served as executive director of the Biddeford + Saco Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He also served as transportation director of Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach Transit.

“His resume is impressive
and speaks for itself.”
— Laura Seaver, publisher

Today, Pendleton continues to serve on the PeoplesChoice Credit Union board of directors, a position he has held for over 30 years, including 20 years as board chair.

“I’m always ready for the next challenge and looking for new ways to improve our community,” Pendleton said. “I am excited about the Biddeford Gazette’s mission and its future potential as a valuable news resource and community partner.”

Pendleton – a native of Saco – grew up in Camp Ellis, a tight-knit neighborhood perched on the shores of Saco Bay. He graduated from Thornton Academy in 1978 and then graduated from the University of Rhode Island, earning a degree in Commercial Fishing and Marine Technology. In 2010, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Husson University.

For more information about the Biddeford Gazette’s Community Advisory Council and its other members | Community Advisory Council

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NEWSLETTER: Surgery & Local Politics

September 28, 2025December 13, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Greetings!

I know this newsletter is long overdue, but I feel as if I have a decent excuse.

As most of you know, I broke my right arm in two places while on vacation a few weeks ago. Since then, I have had surgery and am making good progress toward full recovery.

The accident, however, did impact the Biddeford Gazette in a big way, especially because I was not able to use a keyboard, but we’re getting back on track.

And yes, Laura and I got a new puppy two weeks ago — as if we didn’t already have enough pets. To introduce Moose, I offer her as the featured photo for this newsletter installment.

We have a lot to get to, so let’s get started.

Campaign Coverage:

The local election season is upon us. Every two years, Biddeford voters choose a mayor, city councilors and school committee members. This year, voters will also be asked to decide two significant bond questions and a referendum regarding whether Biddeford needs a fresh look at the city’s charter.

For your convenience, the Gazette has created an entire section of our website to be a landing page for detailed information about the upcoming election. Here, you can find Frequently Asked Questions about the election and profiles about the candidates and issues, as well as a list of related public events.

Parts of this section are still under construction, and we plan to officially launch our comprehensive campaign coverage on Oct. 1 (We sure do love alliteration!)

Advisory Board:

I am happy to report that we are now in the process of scheduling and coordinating the very first meeting of our Advisory Board. I am so honored that these nine community members are willing to help the Gazette achieve its mission of being a trusted, community-driven news source.

Continued Growth/New Faces:

Our subscriber list continues to increase by leaps and bounds, but we are also experiencing some internal growth. I would like to introduce you to Jim Krause, a Pennsylvania native who lives in Biddeford. Jim has written a few pieces for us including our recent profile of Biddeford’s new city manager.

*Jim Krause, contributing writer for the Biddeford Gazette*

The thing that amazes me is that Jim is willing to work without financial compensation. Look for more stories from him in the very near future.

We have also forged a relationship with the Maine Monitor, a statewide, non-profit digital media source that is dedicated to in-depth reporting and media collaboration with independent journalists across the state.

Recent/Exclusive News Stories:

Despite my broken arm, I am proud of the fact that the Gazette has still been able to bring you several exclusive and important news stories over the last few weeks, including:

Biddeford’s former city manager and questions about his own property tax assessments

A grassroots group of citizens collected enough signatures to force a special citizens’ meeting before the city council.

A roundtable public forum that included several of the candidates hoping to be elected in November.

A deeper look at Biddeford’s revised ordinances regarding engine braking.

A story about ongoing thefts of bottles and cans collected by local veterans.

On a final note, I want to offer a really big shout out to the Gazette’s publisher, my wife Laura. Laura is the reason we were able to keep publishing over the last few weeks. She has been a typist, a therapist and something else beginning with the letter ‘t,” that I can’t think of now. (Yes, we really do love alliteration)

Take care and be good to each other!

_____________

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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Biddeford-Saco Courier will no longer be printed, online only

March 4, 2025April 26, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

According to its parent company, the Biddeford-Saco Courier — and several other weekly publications — will no longer be printed and will only be available online.

The Courier and many other newspapers throughout southern Maine, including daily and weekly publications, are owned by the Maine Trust for Local News.

Carolyn Fox, executive editor of the Maine Trust for Local News, said the decision was “difficult,” but pointed out that a dwindling number of people rely on printed publications as their primary news source.

“To sustain and grow impactful journalism in Maine, we have to meet our readers where they are,” Fox said. “Our digital expansion creates a stronger foundation for the Maine Trust, and we’re excited to build on that in partnership with the communities we serve.”

The move to a digital platform will result in 49 layoffs of employees who print and distribute the newspapers. Fox said her company is planning to add employees to its newsrooms later this year.

The Biddeford-Saco Courier — a free weekly publication — was created and launched by David and Carolyn Flood of Saco in 1989. The paper was distributed in residential neighborhoods and available on newstands.

The Floods — who now live in Delaware — sold the Courier and several of its sister publications to the publishers of the Journal Tribune in 2007. The daily Journal Tribune newspaper closed its doors in 2019.

Flood said he was surprised by the announcement but acknowledged the industry trend. “Personally, I think printed papers are easier to read,” Flood said.

Liz Gotthelf, the publisher of Saco Bay News — another online news source in the Biddeford-Saco area — said she was not surprised by the announcement.

“To sustain and grow impactful journalism in Maine,
we have to meet our readers where they are,”
– Carolyn Fox, executive editor, Maine Trust for Local News

“I think publishing local news online is a way to reach a wider range of readers,” Gotthelf said. “By focusing on a digital platform, it makes things so much easier and less expensive. Also, there are not many places that have a printing press.”

Currently, the Courier’s online presence is connected to its parent company’s web site, which can only be accessed with a paid subscription. The Courier has always been a free publication, so it remains unclear if readers will be able to access the publication without a subscription.

Both Flood and Gotthelf say they will be closely watching the Courier’s transition.

People seeking local news and information in the Biddeford-Saco area will now have three online media outlets to choose from, including the Biddeford Gazette and Saco Bay News.

Laura Seaver, publisher of the Biddeford Gazette, said the announcement was expected for a long time. “This puts everyone on a level playing field,” she said.

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