In a modest, second-floor apartment on Alfred Street, Zimra Winters is making his dream come true.
Winters, 29, has a daytime job working as a baker at Rover Bagel in Biddeford. But his real passion is cookies – cookies so delicious that after your first bite, you may think you have died and gone to heaven.
Earlier this week, Winters formally launched his own small business – Thank You Cookie Box, a boutique, mini bakery he operates in his own kitchen with a standard oven that you would find in most homes.
Zimra Winters of Biddeford shows off a tray of his artisan cookies that are made in his own kitchen. (Seaver photo)
Winters says he cleared all the hurdles necessary before launching his business, including inspections by the city’s code enforcement office and a state inspection.
“This is something I have wanted to do for as long as I can remember,” Winters said. “When I was just 10 years old, I would bake cookies and sell them at the end of our driveway.”
Winters is truly passionate about cookies.
“I like how they look, and especially how they smell” he said.
Although the focus is on making handmade cookies from scratch with local ingredients, Winters points out that a standard artisan box of cookies comes in a recyclable cardboard box with eco-friendly wrapping.
“It really does make the perfect thank you gift for individuals or companies,” Winter says. According to their website, giving someone a custom-made box of cookies is “an effortless, consistent and customizable way to show gratitude.”
Winters says he can add a company’s logo to each gift box and provides online ordering and free delivery in the Biddeford-Saco area.
Thank You Cookies come in four signature flavors with a gourmet twist, including:
Chocolate Chunk – Fudgy soft with a rich brown butter flavor and generous chunks of milk chocolate – an elegant twist on the classic cookie;
Birthday Cake – A buttery vanilla sugar cookie is studded with creamy white chocolate chips and bright sprinkles for a birthday party in every bite
Red Velvet Crinkle – A delicate dusting of powdered sugar tops this velvet soft cocoa cookie on a local version of the classic red velvet cake;
Snickerdoodle – The timeless snickerdoodle with a rich brown butter flavor that perfectly complements the warm cinnamon.
Winters is also proud of his new company’s commitment to sustainability. Each cookie is individually wrapped in biodegradable cellophane sleeves to keep it fresh and soft for over a week while also reducing single-use plastic waste.
While Zimra is the cookie expert, his partner Katie Schraeder handles all other aspects of the new business. “We make a good team,” Winters said.
“I hope that someday we can expand this business,” he said. “For now, we’ll just have to see how it goes.”
For more information about Thank You Cookie Box, please visit their website.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email at randy@randyseaver.com
Tomorrow, October 1, the Biddeford Gazette will officially begin its coverage of the 2025 municipal elections in Biddeford.
It’s hard to explain why I am so excited about this time of year. I feel like a little kid on Christmas morning.
After working at other newspapers, I began covering news in Biddeford during the month of October, nearly 30 years ago. I jumped right in with almost no historical perspective.
Former mayor Alan Casavant (right) was not happy when I snapped this photo during a tense city council meeting.
I was immediately hooked and fascinated by the city’s political machinations, the stories and the legends.
I found myself intrigued by long-winded tales about people like ‘Babe” Dutremble, “Papa” Lausier and “Tiny” Frechette.
Sure, I was already a lifelong political junkie. At 10 years old, my parents had to pry me from the television as I watched the culmination of the Watergate scandal.
In middle school, I would brag that I had shaken hands with Ed Muskie and Jimmy Carter. Yup, I was a weird kid.
During my junior year of high school, I found myself working in an actual newsroom during a brief internship at the Journal Tribune. We had IBM Selectric typewriters. Everyone in the newsroom drank coffee, most of them smoked – at their desks.
Bob Melville, the city editor, wore his glasses perched on the end of the nose. He referred to me only as “kid.” He almost made me cry when he questioned my loose grasp of the English language.
We got lunches at Poli’s at Five Points, and profanity was acceptable in the workplace. I was working among titans who kept the city’s political players in check.
It was a glorious time. I knew then and there what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I wanted to be the next Carl Bernstein.
I feel a special connection to Biddeford City Hall. I am one of the lucky ones. I still remember smoke-filled, off-the-record meetings in “Ward Eight” with guys like Bob Dodge and Bruce Benway, the city’s first manager.
Secrets were carefully revealed. Suggestions were made. Deals were struck – all behind the scenes.
Former City Councilor George “Pete’ Lamontagne discusses a photo collection he helped curate for the Biddeford Mills Museum. The former president of the local textile workers union, (UNITE) Lamontagne became one of the most respected and well-liked members of the city council (Seaver photo)
Back then, there were 11 members of the city council. The city had four at-large representatives. I still remember the meeting when Mayor Donna Dion appointed Maria Martin to fill the vacancy created by her father’s death.
J. Richard “Dick” Martin was another of those local political legends.
Today, I still love the creak and groan of those old wooden stairs that lead to the Council Chamber on the third floor. The smell is the same. If you pause, silent — you can almost hear the whispers of those now ghosts who were so eager to climb those stairs for more than a century.
Today, I am honored to be entrusted by so many people to report the news that happens in Biddeford. It’s not an easy gig, and that’s what makes it great.
In the 1990s, I and my colleagues from the Tribune and Portland Press Herald sat in the back row during council meetings. We respected one another, but we were fiercely competitive.
We would have stabbed one another in the neck for an exclusive story. The people were well served by the local press. I got to work with top-notch reporters like Ted Cohen and Kelley Bouchard.
Over the years, I became more and more immersed in Biddeford politics. I got to interview people like former mayors Michael Cantara and Bonnie Pothier. I listened as former councilor Kitty Goodreau recalled a story about an angry businessman who threatened to “kneecap” a councilor because of a zoning change.
Former mayor Wallace Nutting (center) and former City Councilors John McCurry and Ken Farley devised a plan to “get tough” on MERC, the former waste-to-energy incinerator located in downtown Biddeford (Seaver photo)
Former mayor Alan Casavant once lost an election by one vote because he did not vote for himself (true story).
I vividly recall the battles like a council order to re-route all trash trucks through Saco and the predictable, regular chorus of “Peaker’s Squeakers,” the three men from Biddeford Pool who were politically aligned with Councilor Ron Peaker.
And I cannot forget the marvelous “after council” meetings that would take place at that round corner table tucked away near the bar at the Wonderbar Restaurant.
I would give almost anything to have Vinny Keely pour me another perfect pint of Guiness while I chatted, laughed and fought with people like Jim Grattelo, Kent Webster, Kyle Noble and even my old editor Bob Melville — who didn’t even remember that I briefly sat next to him in a newsroom.
Yup, I am one of the lucky ones.
The next chapter of Biddeford’s ongoing political story begins tomorrow. I only hope for two things:
First, that you find my coverage to be helpful in making your decisions about who should run our city for the next two years. Secondly, that you are unable to figure out which candidates I am personally supporting. Now, let the games begin.
NOTE:For more information about the local issues, elections and candidates, please click THIS LINK
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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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Members of a grassroots coalition that are pushing for a public airing of grievance meeting announced Thursday that they have collected far more than the 100-signatures of registered Biddeford voters they need in order invoke a “General Meeting of Citizens.”
“It really wasn’t hard to get the signatures,” said Carole Alexander, the wife of Biddeford’s former harbormaster, the late Marshall Alexander.
Carole Alexander spearheaded the effort to collect the signatures and force the public meeting regarding the University of New England’s planned research pier on the Saco River.
Carole Alexander (right) drops off more than 100 signatures of registered voters to Biddeford City Manager Truc Dever (Seaver photo)
Alexander told the Gazette she that became angry during the review process of UNE’s proposal, especially when University of New England officials publicly implied that her late husband supported the school’s desired location for their large research pier.
“They just made that up,” Alexander said. “Marshall never approved that site. They [the university] are just trying to cover their butts now because our current harbormaster also doesn’t approve of the site.”
In March 2024, former Biddeford City Manager Jim Bennett removed both the city’s current harbormaster and assistant harbormaster from the review process, stating that the harbormaster demonstrated bias and the city could face possible litigation from the university.
According to city ordinances, members of the public can petition the city council to host a public meeting that will be run by citizens while the mayor and members of the city council listen to the public’s concerns.
The rarely invoked “General Meeting of the Citizens” is allowed if 100 valid signatures are collected. The mechanics of a General Meeting require the city council to listen and not speak — as citizens fully air grievances about the topic at hand.
Former city councilor Kyle Noble, one of the most vocal opponents of UNE’s plan, said many residents — throughout the city — are concerned about what he described as a rushed public review process that “often seemed less than transparent.”
“This is not just a bunch of NIMBYs in the Hills Beach area,” Noble said. “We got signatures from across the city.”
John Schafer – another outspoken opponent of the pier’s proposed location and former chair of Biddeford’s Harbor Commission – said he was able to get dozens of signatures simply by talking to residents who were dropping off trash and recyclable materials at the city’s transfer station on Saturday.
“I was stunned by how many people were so eager and willing to sign the petition,” Shafer said.
“We could have collected a thousand signatures if we had to,” Noble said. “In all my years of public service, I can’t remember any issue galvanizing people like this one has.”
Alexander pointed out that her signatures were collected over a period of just four days. She delivered several sheets of signed petitions to City Manager Truc Dever on Thursday morning.
As of press time, it remains unclear when the airing of grievance meeting will take place.
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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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Bridgestone/Firestone Auto Care opens its first Maine location
Several Biddeford city officials joined with dozens of Bridgestone employees for Thursday’s grand opening event at Maine’s first Firestone Complete Auto Care location in Biddeford.
The auto care store first opened its doors on Alfred Road to the public on August 11, according to store manager Amanda Miller.
Miller said the Biddeford operation employs 13 people and is open seven days per week.
Although it took three attempts, company representatives and local leaders were able to cut the ceremonial ribbon to launch the grand opening. (Seaver photo)
In addition to all the pomp and circumstance of a typical ribbon cutting event, the company also announced a $3,000 donation plus some equipment and supplies for the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology (BRCOT)
The BRCOT serves high school students from Biddeford, Saco, Dayton and Waterboro with several areas of vocational training including plumbing, welding and automotive repair.
During his brief remarks at the ceremony, School Supt. Jeremy Ray thanked the company for their donation, adding that the BRCOT relies heavily on educational partnerships with area businesses.
According to Ray, the BRCOT has its largest enrollment in 15 years, serving more than 530 high school students who are exploring careers in the trades.
“This is a big win for us,” Ray told the crowd. “You often see things on social media pointing out the value of vocational training, but the city of Biddeford has been a proud leader in offering that type of education.”
According to company officials, the Biddeford location’s grand opening coincides with Firestone’s 100th anniversary. The Biddeford store, they said, is the first Firestone Complete Auto location in Maine and joins more than 2,000 other locations across the country.
City Manager Truc Dever told the audience she is in need of new tires after moving to Maine from Washington last month. “At least now I know where to get those tires,” she laughed.
Bridgestone/Firestone representatives said they will continue to provide ongoing support for the BRCOT’s automotive programs.
According to a company press release, Firestone Complete Auto Care is part of the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world, with more than 2,200 tire and vehicle service centers across the United States.
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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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Several city council hopefuls and one of the three candidates for mayor in Biddeford attended an event Tuesday that was billed as a “Community Roundtable” discussion between candidates and members of the public.
The forum was held in an ante room at Pizza By Alex and was attended by 18 members of the public. Delilah Poupore, executive director of the Heart of Biddeford, served as moderator of the 90-minute Q & A session.
The event was organized by Better Biddeford, a non-profit organization focused mainly on residential tenant rights. On its website, the group describes its mission as follows: “to connect, inform and empower the community through shared resources and civic engagement.”
ModeratorDelilah Poupore (far right) kicks off the candidate roundtable meeting
Several candidates were not able to attend the forum. Those who did attend provided short answers to a wide range of topics and questions from the audience, including concerns about affordable housing, ICE enforcement actions, sustainable development and making Biddeford a more walkable community.
Each candidate was also allowed to make brief opening and closing remarks.
Although Mayor Marty Grohman stopped by shortly before the event began, he said he was unable to participate because of a Traffic Committee meeting at City Hall. Mayoral candidate Norm Belanger also did not attend the event, telling the Gazette last week that he will be out of town on vacation.
City Council President Liam LaFountain did attend the event and said he is hoping that candidates will have even more opportunities to connect with residents and talk about their priorities.
Of the three at-large candidates, only Nasreen A Sheikh-Yousef attended Tuesday’s forum. Neither Councilor Marc Lessard nor Lisa Vadnais attended the meeting. The two council candidates from Ward Six — Roger Hurtubise and Jake Pierson – also did not attend. And Ward Two candidate John McCurry said he had a prior engagement.
Ward Seven council candidate Brad Cote pointed out that all Biddeford residents are facing increasing costs for food, utilities and healthcare on top of skyrocketing housing costs.
Council candidate Nasreen A Sheikh-Yousef answers a question while candidates Sam Pecor (left) and David Kurtz (right) listen.
“Sometimes it’s easy to simply say we should spend more on various projects, but we have to balance and prioritize our wants and needs,” Cote said. “We need to be creative in searching for sources of revenue that are not just reaching into the pockets of taxpayers.”
On the topic of how to increase “environmentally sustainable” housing, Sam Pecor, the other Ward Seven candidate, pointed out that Biddeford’s current housing stock is among some of the oldest in the nation.
Pecor — who owns a rental property on May Street – said housing is one of the biggest issues facing the city. “We have to be creative,” he said. “We have to look at different options. This is a really complex puzzle.”
Many of the candidates said the city needs to improve how it communicates with residents.
“As councilors, we have a responsibility to help educate and organize people into action,” said Sheikh-Yousef. “Citizens need to know what is happening in their own community.”
On the topic of accessible public information,” LaFountain pointed to the plans last year to convert apartments into market-rate condominiums at the Pepperell Mill complex.
“What really disturbed me is that we councilors were kept in the dark about those plans,” LaFountain said. “None of us were told about it until the news was dropped on the tenants in that building.”
Mayoral candidate Liam LaFountain (center) and Ward One council hopefuls Jim LaBelle and Pat Boston listen to a question from an audience member during Tuesday’s event.
Ward Five candidate David Kurtz will be unopposed on the ballot. He used some of his speaking time to warn residents that things happening on the national stage could and will impact the city, including federal funding cutbacks.
Kurtz also said he would like to see the city “slow down” its push for housing developments. “We are in a much different position now than we were 20 years ago,” he said. “We no longer need to offer commercial and residential developers sweetheart deals.”
LaBelle reminded the small audience that the demand for all types of housing is quite high in Biddeford, and private sector employers are also struggling to find workers who can afford to live close to the city.
Former Ward Four Councilor Bob Mills said he has long been an advocate for rent stabilization programs but found little support for any kind of rent control from his peers during his prior service on the council.
“I am one of those people in Biddeford who is earning more than $100,000 and still feels poor,” Mills said.
On the issue of ICE enforcement actions, all of the candidates said they do not want the Biddeford Police Department to enter into agreements or cooperate with the federal agency’s enforcement activities.
Ward Two council candidate Abigail Woods was one of the organizers of Tuesday’s event, and said the council should always act with compassion, especially for its most vulnerable citizens.
Former Ward One Councilor Pat Boston talked about the difficult realities of serving on the council.
“We have to be fiscally responsible,” she said. “But the hard part is ‘the how.’ How do we balance the city’s needs without pushing taxpayers over the edge?”
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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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Many people get excited about this time of year. They order pumpkin everything, pick apples, decorate their yards with mums and fret about having the cleverest Halloween costume for themselves and their kids.
I get excited this time of year for an entirely different reason. I am a political junkie with a local focus, and every two years Biddeford voters choose who will represent them as mayor, on the city council and as members of the school committee.
Unlike the rather dull 2023 cycle two years ago, this year’s upcoming elections are bringing some heat to the game.
We have three mayoral candidates this year, and almost every ward race will feature two candidates, except Wards Three and Five.
Marty GrohmanNorman BelangerLiam LaFountain
The last time Biddeford had more than two people running for mayor was in 2013, when former mayor Joanne Twomey and former councilor Perry Aberle both tried to deny Alan Casavant a third, consecutive term.
And one of the most interesting mayoral races in Biddeford took place in 2003 when Gen. Wallace Nutting – a Republican and Saco native – upset the ballot with a decisive win over School Committee member Dan Boucher and City Councilor Marc Lessard.
Few people predicted that outcome, and I was not one of them. For the record, that race generated a whopping voter turnout of more than 67 percent of registered voters.
Typically, turnout during local elections rarely break the 45 percent mark.
Today’s political landscape in Biddeford
Voters will also be asked this year to decide the fate of two rather significant municipal bond issues; and whether to convene another Charter Review Commission.
In my opinion, there are at least three significant issues driving more candidates and voters to participate in this year’s election.
First, issues connected to former city manager James Bennett angered many people in the community on almost every front: how federal grant money was being used, excessive staff turnover at City Hall, questions about discrepancies in the Finance Department, a blistering report from the city’s auditors and the city’s inability to pay a private contractor for his services to the city.
Former City Manager James Bennett
And Bennett was also a central figure in the controversy surrounding the University of New England’s plan to construct a large pier on the Saco River. Bennett sidelined both the city’s harbormaster and deputy harbormaster during local review of the pier proposal.
The council finally removed Bennett from office but not before he left a shitty taste in a lot of mouths across the city. Bennett filed a lawsuit against the city.
City officials, in turn, are pointing to concerns about how Bennett used his office for his own gain.
Secondly, the UNE pier proposal raised local concerns on a number of fronts as opponents raised questions about possible conflicts of interest and a lack of transparency during the project’s review.
Members of the public voiced concerns and anger earlier this year about the University of New England’s controversial plan to construct a large pier on the Saco River (Seaver photo)
Finally, continuing property tax increases are always an issue in local elections. Over the last two years, the city has passed on increased spending budgets of nearly six percent per year.
Not surprisingly, several incumbent candidates are now raising concerns about property tax burdens, yet many of them actually approved increased spending over the last two years.
Politicians will be politicians.
How will the Biddeford Gazette cover all the election news?
Our in-depth election coverage will begin on October 1.
We are now in the process of collecting questionnaires that were sent to all city council candidates. We will use those surveys as the basis for upcoming stories about each of the contested ward races. We will also periodically examine each of the races and how they align with public concerns.
The contested ward races will be covered in a single story. For example, candidates Patricia Boston and Jim LaBelle from Ward One will be featured in the same story.
Likewise, the three at-large candidates will be introduced in one story, but we will also do follow-up stories on that race.
When it comes to the mayor’s race, we will publish three separate stories regarding each candidate during the first full week of October.
Profiles and interviews with Norman Belanger, Marty Grohman and Liam LaFountain will be published in alphabetical order on three consecutive days.
Obviously, we will be writing many other stories, especially about the mayoral candidates and their campaigns.
Upcoming mayoral debate
Finally, I am proud of the fact that I was able to organize at least one public debate among all three mayoral candidates. It took a lot or work to get this thing organized but I think it’s well worth the effort.
I am especially pleased that my colleagues from Saco Bay News, and the Biddeford-Saco Courier agreed to participate as panelists with me.
That debate will take place on Friday, October 10, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Biddeford High School’s Little Theater on Maplewood Avenue.
The debate will be streamed live and recorded for later viewing on social media sites.
While there will be no public comment during this event, we are hoping that most of the questions will come from the public in the form of written submissions before the debate.
Something happened at last night’s Biddeford City Council meeting that should be a template for all of us.
In a time of seemingly unprecedented political tension on the national stage, two city councilors showed us all a valuable lesson about respect, collaboration and friendship – despite being almost polar opposites when it comes to political ideology.
Councilors Doris Ortiz and Marc Lessard are the city’s two at-large council members, and they about as different as you can get — but they both love Biddeford and that is what drives their friendship.
Doris Ortiz
Lessard has been a member of the council since the late 1990s. He is the longest serving council member.
Ortiz decided to run for council in 2019, saying she was inspired by my wife’s service on the council.
Like all new councilors, Ortiz recalled being nervous and feeling a little overwhelmed when she was sworn in and later attended her first meeting on the other side of the council dais.
Lessard was her seatmate on the council. He knew they would probably struggle to find consensus, but that didn’t matter. Lessard immediately took Ortiz under his wing. He coached her, advised her and reassured her that she was in the right place.
Though the city council is non-partisan, there is no denying that Ortiz and Lessard are fundamentally on different sides of the political spectrum.
That didn’t matter. They just worked together. They listened to one another and they even shared jokes and laughed together.
More than that, they often formed what was jokingly called an “unholy alliance.”
I have been watching their relationship for six years. There were times when you could almost see and feel the tension between them as they tackled a myriad of policy issues, from housing to budgets.
Marc Lessard
But they also found a lot of common ground; and they always acted with respect and civility.
Last night, Ortiz announced her resignation from the council because she is moving outside of the city.
It was an emotional announcement that encapsulated Ortiz’s philosophy and modus operandi: she was humble, authentic and grateful for the opportunity to serve.
At the end of her brief statement, it was Marc Lessard who was first on his feet to offer Ortiz a standing ovation. Everyone else in the council chamber quickly followed Lessard’s lead.
Lessard and Ortiz offered all of us a timely and relevant lesson.
No matter how discouraged we may feel about our nation’s political divisiveness, we can still choose to treat each other with civility and respect.
Godspeed, Councilor Ortiz. Thank you for your service and commitment to our city.
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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 Mayor Marty Grohman seems ready to take another bite at the apple when it comes to ousting Roch Angers from the planning board, despite broad public opposition.
On Tuesday, Grohman presented the council with his recommendation to remove Angers from the Biddeford Planning Board. Only councilor William Emhiser was willing to take up the matter, but his motion failed to get a second from another member of the council.
While most people considered the issue dead on arrival, Grohman says he is still exploring ways to remove Angers from the board.
Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman
On August 5, Angers, a member of the planning board, brought his own personal concerns to the council regarding how the city was handling the University of New England’s proposal to construct a large pier near its Biddeford campus.
When contacted by the Gazette on Friday, Grohman remained steadfast in his effort to remove Angers.
“I don’t think it is something that can be ignored,” Grohman said. “We can’t have people doing whatever they want on boards and commissions, there are rules that need to be followed.”
Grohman says the complaint, which was lodged by Alexa Plotkin, chair of the planning board, should be heard before the council.
Several councilors we spoke to say they do not understand why or how the mayor intends to move forward.
When asked that question, Grohman acknowledged that he does not have an approach or plan worked out. “I’m not sure, I’m not going to do it. I think it has to come from the council chair or someone else.”
Emhiser was unavailable for comment as of press time. He was the only councilor willing to bring the mayor’s proposal forward. Emhiser represents the city’s coastal area including the University of New England’s campus. He is not seeking reelection.
Other members of the council say that they are somewhat baffled as to why Grohman is pursuing something that has so little support.
Councilor Marc Lessard said the mayor has the prerogative to pursue the item, but he also said “It’s really weird. It’s got me scratching my head.”
It’s really weird. It’s got me scratching my head.
— Councilor Marc Lessard
Council President Liam LaFountain said “It’s perplexing, but it’s the mayor’s prerogative.”
Councilor Norman Belanger echoed what Lessard and LaFountain said.
“I don’t get it,” he said. “Under Robert’s Rules of Order, it can be brought back up, but I don’t see this as proceeding forward.”
When contacted by the Gazette, Angers said he also does not understand the mayor’s dogged approach to remove him from the planning board.
“I have no clue why he is continuing to go after me. I see it as Marty just being Marty,” Angers said.
Angers added that he has no plans to step down from the planning board but did say that his relationship with Board Chair Alexa Plotkin feels strained and awkward.
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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The Biddeford City Council is expected to vote Tuesday about Mayor Marty Grohman’s request to remove a member of the city’s planning board.
And now, another member of the planning board is rising to the defense of his colleague, saying a removal is not necessary and that a written reprimand would be more appropriate.
Grohman issued a public statement last week, announcing that he will be asking the council to oust Roch Angers – a longtime board member and former city councilor – from the planning board.
Roch Angers addresses the Biddeford City Council on August 5
Grohman says Angers acted inappropriately during the August 5 city council meeting.
At that August 5 meeting, Angers approached the podium and said he was speaking to the council as a citizen, not in his official capacity as a member of the planning board.
During his remarks, Angers raised several questions about the process connected to the municipal review of the pier project being proposed by the University of New England. Specifically, Angers said that he was disturbed about the city’s move to remove harbormaster Paul Lariviere from the review process.
While Grohman says that all planning board members sign a statement agreeing to be impartial and follow the board’s code of ethics, Angers said that his motivation for speaking out is rooted in the fact that people should know what is happening in the city with regards to the project.
Grohman says he has “tremendous respect” for Angers and his many years of service to the city.
“This was not an easy thing for me to do,” Grohman said. “But it is my responsibility to make sure that every applicant is treated fairly and consistently by the city’s review agencies, including the planning board.”
Angers said he was not especially surprised by the mayor’s move to oust him.
“I have always given my best effort to the city of Biddeford,” Angers said. “I also have a responsibility to make sure that the city is well represented on every application that comes before the board.”
According to the planning board’s rules of procedure and code of ethics,
“appointment to the Planning Board…represents a public trust”
The code of ethics also reminds members of the importance of seeking as much information as possible. The code of ethics states, that “members have the responsibility to insist that they are provided…information of sufficient scope and depth to allow them to fully understand the issues before the Board and the alternative actions available to the Board.”
Also, the protocol spells out what a member should do if they do not fully understand the issues immediately before the board. The board member has the responsibility to ask questions and to acquire the necessary understanding.
“I did what I did because I was speaking for the people of Biddeford,” Angers said. “There have been too many questionable things, and I have a reputation for calling it like I see it.”
Grohman said the decision was a hard one for him to make. He also acknowledged that the timing of his decision is less than ideal, given that citywide elections will be taking place in less than 90 days.
“I realize this is very bad for me politically, but I have got to do what is right, rules are rules,” Grohman said.
When contacted by the Gazette, planning board chair Alexa Plotkin said she was the one who filed the complaint against Angers.
“A joint request was made by myself and the vice chair of the planning board (Larry Patoine) to Mayor Grohman to begin the process of removing Mr. Angers from the board due to his actions at the August 5th, 2025 city council meeting,” Plotkin said.
However, when contacted by the Gazette on Friday, Larry Patoine — vice chair of the planning board— said he is reconsidering his position.
“I now think we are being a bit too harsh,” Patoine said. “I would be more supportive of issuing a written reprimand.”
Angers says he will personally attend Tuesday’s council meeting to defend his position as a member of the planning board.
“I am not going to walk away with my tail between my legs,” Angers said. “I have no regrets.”
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email at Randy@randyseaver.com
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Although they are not yet as famous as the Coen brothers, Cash and Nick Cassidy are already making quite a splash in the world of independent (indie) filmmaking.
Their latest film – Childish Things – will kick off this year’s Vacationland Film Festival at City Theater in Biddeford on Thursday, August 21.
The movie’s tagline – ‘Why run from your problems, when you can drive?’ —encapsulates the 95-minute film’s premise, preparing the viewer for what could be described as a gritty docudrama.
In his publicly released director’s commentary, Nick Cassidy explains the film’s essence.
“I like to call Childish Things a “coming-of-more-age” story because, let’s face it, movie characters tend to come of age before graduating high school, but for many people, me included, it took a bit longer,” the elder Cassidy said.
The film is about a 30-year-old musician who is facing pressure from his girlfriend to get engaged. Thus, he embarks on a cross-country road trip to sell his beloved tour bus.
During that jaunt across America – from Portland, Maine to Los Angeles, Calif., –the main character is forced to question whether he really wants to marry his girlfriend, especially after he meets a free-spirited woman near Nashville.
We caught up with the Cassidy brothers this week to ask them about their film, the vitality of the indie-film world and how technology, including AI, has impacted movie making.
Cash Cassidy, 22, is the film’s producer. In addition to editing the film, he was also in charge of the lighting, sound and location management.
Nick Cassidy, 32, is the film’s director and also portrayed one of the lead characters in the movie.
“We basically figured most of it out as we moved through it,” Cash explains. “We had a friend with a small bus. He was already planning a road trip across country, so we jumped on that opportunity.”
Today, even independent films not produced by major studios can still cost millions of dollars to produce.
While Cash and Nick did not have access to that kind of money, they relied on resources they already had available to them, such as free software that is available on the internet.
Cash and Nick Cassidy say new technology empowers people to produce quality independent films. (Seaver photo)
To say their budget was bare bones is an understatement.
“I was able to tap in to some of my college funds because I described the project as an independent study endeavor,” Cash said. “I already had a camera, and was able to borrow some other equipment.”
In order to take advantage of their friend’s planned trip across the United States, the brothers found themselves on a tight timeline that only allowed three months for planning and pre-production.
The Cassidy brothers did a lot of improvising to make the film possible.
In fact, some of their primary casting was done via Instagram, where they met Guinevere Berthelot of Nashville.
In her video audition for the role, Berthelot placed her laptop on the floor and then roller-skated from across to the room to participate in an online Zoom audition.
“We felt the connection immediately,” Nick Cassidy said. “We knew she was perfect – exactly what we were hoping for.”
The brothers say they were both surprised that Berthelot agreed to join them on a road trip across the country simply after an online Instagram meeting.”
Nick said the film’s vibe required all the actors to be in character throughout the filming even when cameras were not rolling.
“We were looking for authenticity,” he explained. “Some of the scenes are pretty emotional and we wanted the viewers to be fully engaged, wondering whether what they are watching is a true story or a made-up adventure.”
Cash, who began making movies when he was eight years old, described Childish Things as “guerilla filmmaking.”
“We wanted the viewers to be fully engaged, wondering whether what they are watching is a true story or a made-up adventure.”
— Nick Cassidy
“We wanted all the elements and the true sense of an indie film,” he said. “We weren’t looking for polish. We were looking for a raw connection that would fully engage our audience.”
Principle shooting of the film’s scenes took two weeks of filming: two days of footage in South Portland, 10 days of shooting across the country and then two more days of shooting in Los Angeles.
In all, the brothers accumulated roughly 25 hours-worth of footage, which Cash edited into a 95-minute movie.
“Today, thanks to technology, just about anyone can make a movie,” Nick explained. “You no longer need a big budget to make a feature film. Audiences are craving things that are not glossy.”
Asked about the impact of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in the movie industry, both Nick and Cash said the only thing that really matters is “having the ability to tell a really good story.”
One of Biddeford’s most beloved local businesses is also located in the epicenter of the so-called ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’, the six-month-long sewer upgrade project that has significantly interrupted traffic flow on Elm Street.
Dupuis Hardware is an old-fashioned hardware store, where knowledgeable employees can help you figure out what parts you need to repair a toilet or help you select the perfect grass seed for your lawn.
In an age of big-box stores, Dupuis Hardware remains as a community staple, and their customers are willing to put up with traffic in order to purchase a garden hose or get a new house key made.
Stewart Dupuis stands ready to help you with your next project (Seaver photo)
“I think people really appreciate our friendly service,” said manager Stewart Dupuis. “We’re able to offer personalized service and can really focus on each customer’s particular needs.”
Dupuis Hardware has been in business since 1957, and they have a loyal and dedicated customer base.
But they have also been hit very hard by the ongoing construction project taking place just outside their front door.
Dupuis said the family-owned business had to let go of two employees because of plunging sales likely connected to the massive construction project.
“It’s certainly been challenging, that’s for sure,” Dupuis said. “We just have to keep pushing forward. You do what you gotta do to survive.”
Dupuis says his store is best known for its expert locksmith department that provides resources for people with missing keys or malfunctioning electronic key fobs and many other services.
“We just have to keep pushing forward. You do what you gotta do to survive.”
— Stewart Dupuis
In addition to their professional locksmith services, customers can roam the store’s aisles and find everything from power tools to cleaning supplies; and from paint to gas grills.
If you have DIY project happening at home, a visit to Dupuis Hardware would be a good idea.
Dupuis Hardware is open from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
According to organizers, the relief effort to help families that were displaced by last week’s fire on Brackett Street has received wide and ‘overwhelming support” from the community.
Jessica Johnson, a downtown business owner and former city council candidate, has been coordinating the effort to help provide essential items and clothing for people who “lost everything” during Wednesday’s fire.
“On the one hand, it’s heartbreaking to hear the stories of total loss, on the other hand, it is so heartwarming to see the response,” Johnson said. “This is an awesome community, and people from all over are pitching in and doing whatever they can to help.”
On Monday evening, Johnson coordinated a drop-off event at the Academy of Dance on Elm Street in Biddeford. There, volunteers spent several hours sorting through piles of donated clothing and small household furnishings.
Mayor Marty Grohman joined volunteers for a photo during the distribution event that took place at the Academy of Dance (Contributed photo)
“It was so amazing that Amanda and Nate Braley were willing to let us use their business space to get things organized,” Johnson said.
According to Johnson, four roommates and a family of six were living in the house that was destroyed by the fire at 10 Brackett Street.
But Johnson said a mother and her infant who were living next door were also displaced because of water, smoke and fire damage to their apartment at 12 Brackett Street.
Johnson said representatives of the American Red Cross were on the scene almost immediately and helped the family with emergency funding via donated debit cards.
Johnson says she has set up a GoFund Me account to help raise money for the displaced families. A link to that account can be found on the Biddeford Maine Facebook group, where she is an administrator.
During a brief interview Monday morning, Fire Chief Lawrence Best said he was proud of his department and impressed by the coordinated response of out-of-town firefighters who responded to the call.
“These are always tough situations.” Best said. “Our crews and those who responded from other departments did an extraordinary job and demonstrated sheer professionalism and commitment.”
According to Best, the apartment building next door suffered damage from wind-driven fire. No occupants from either building next door were injured, he said.
Two Firefighters were transported to the hospital due to heat exhaustion and were later released.
Eleven fire companies from surrounding communities responded to the scene. Four other communities, including Portland, South Portland, Waterboro and Hollis responded to Biddeford to cover other emergencies in the city.
Crews spent hours battling the blaze at !o Brackett Street (Seaver photo)
The State Fire Marshall’s Office is investigating the fire and no cause has yet been determined.
Johnson said any leftover funds from the relief effort’s fundraising campaign will be donated to the non-profit Pillars of Pride organization, an extension of the Biddeford Education Foundation,, which is a 501(c)(3) organization.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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Former Biddeford City Manager Jim Bennett is asking the city of Biddeford to financially reimburse him for expenses he incurred while performing as a Shriner’s clown in June and July this year.
According to documents obtained by the Biddeford Gazette, Bennett is asking the city for a total of $798.92 in expense reimbursements, including an overnight hotel stay in Wilton and for mileage to and from the Yarmouth Clam Festival Parade.
Bennett routinely dresses as a clown named Ginjo as part of his support for Kora Temple Shriners.
Former city manager James Bennett as Ginjo (Facebook photo)
Bennett is currently in the midst of a lawsuit he filed against the city earlier this year.
City Attorney Harry Center told the Gazette that the city has no plans to reimburse Bennett for those expenses.
Bennett was hired as Biddeford’s city manager in June 2015. His management style became a subject of community controversy over the last two years.
Bennett announced his resignation on October 14, describing it as phased “retirement,” despite the fact that he had more than a year remaining in his current contract.
Bennett publicly announced that he would step down in April.
On February 20, city officials booted Bennett from his office. City officials say they cannot comment about why Bennett was shown the door earlier than planned.
Although the Biddeford Gazette filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) asking for more details, Center said the city could not comment on personnel issues.
Earlier this year, Bennett filed a civil lawsuit in York County Superior Court against the city, claiming he is still owed salary. The city responded with a counter claim, saying Bennett was in breach of his contract.
That case is still pending in court.
One Biddeford resident, who asked for anonymity, told the Gazette that she is “dumbfounded” by Bennett’s request to be reimbursed for activities that happened months after he was removed from office. “You simply cannot make this [stuff] up,” she said. “He wants me and other taxpayers to cover his expenses as a clown in another community? Unbelievable.”
Bennett told the Gazette: “It is not [a] reimbursement request.”
“My employment agreement required the city to pay for my civic and community activities,” Bennett said. “However, I never asked the city to pay for those costs.
“Instead, I turned in any costs at on offset to my mileage stipend. There is no truth to it being any additional cost to the city.”
Bennett has been a member of Kora Temple Shriners for nearly 40 years. Shriners operate hospitals and facilitate medical treatment for children with serious illnesses.
NOTE: This story was updated to include Mr. Bennett’s remarks.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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The Biddeford City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday to give the city’s non-union employees a one-half percent pay increase.
Earlier this year, the council completed negotiations with union employees. Those negotiations resulted in a four percent cost-of-living raise. Meanwhile, during this year’s budget process, non-union employees were allocated a 3.5 percent increase.
All city employees — union and non-union are now on a level playing field when it comes to cost-of-living adjustments.
Those supporting the half percent increase said it was a matter of fairness, arguing that non-union employees should get the same increase given to union employees.
“All of our employees are facing the same inflationary pressures when it comes to housing food and utilities,” said Councilor Doris Ortiz. “Citizens want and demand services, and we have to acknowledge employee turnover. We’re not going to be able to recruit or retain employees if we ignore their challenges.”
According to acting city manager Brian Phinney, the half-percent increase this year could be covered by a personnel reserve account in the city’s budget.
Phinney also said the modest increase would bring the city closer to salaries offered by other nearby communities
Phinney told the council that personnel reserve account has a balance of approximately $26,000.
Former city councilor Stephen St. Cyr, however, told the council that he could see no new information since the council finalized the city’s annual budget in June.
“Taxpayers are also facing inflationary pressures, and you have to look out for them too,” St. Cyr said.
Councilor Marc Lessard also raised concerns about the proposal, pointing out that the recent Consumer Price Index reporting showed only a 2.7 percent increase in June.
“When we were working on the budget – just a few weeks ago – we were hoping for and expected a 3.5 percent increase or less,” Lessard said. “How many times to do we go back to the budget just because we want to spend more money?”
“This is a never-ending story of us spending more than what we budgeted,” he added.
Mayor Marty Grohman reminded councilors and members of the public that the city already has the funds in reserve to cover the increase.
Councilors William Ehmiser and Dylan Doughty were absent from the meeting.
Lessard was the only councilor who voted against the increase.
The city’s non-union employees include department heads and some administrative positions, such as emergency dispatchers.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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Understandably, the mayor was less than pleased by what I wrote about him in that editorial. How do I know the mayor was upset? After all, he didn’t contact me directly to offer his perspective on the matter.
I learned about the mayor’s displeasure from back-channel sources. This is becoming a regular trend with this mayor.
When I pissed off former mayors Alan Casavant, JoAnne Twomey, Jim Grattelo, Wallace Nutting or Donna Dion, trust me — I heard about it — from them. Sometimes I apologized, sometimes I didn’t.
Marty does his very best to avoid difficult or challenging subjects. He would much rather post a “selfie” of himself in a variety of locations, always posing. Always smiling.
Here I am with an unhoused person. Here I am with a Vietnam veteran! Here I am with a downtown merchant! Here I am watching traffic!
Mayor Marty Grohman buys an Italian sandwich and wants you to know about it (Photo: Facebook, Marty’s Community Corner)
A few weeks ago, I joked that the most dangerous place in Biddeford is the space between Marty Grohman and an available camera.
Marty isn’t so much supporting Biddeford as he is supporting himself — always ready for the next photo-op, the next group photo, the next feel-good proclamation, avoiding controversy and difficult questions at all costs.
Marty doesn’t want pesky reporters like me looking under the carpet at City Hall or writing stories that are difficult to explain and reconcile.
What Marty seems to want from the media is an enhanced level of public relations, not hard-hitting journalism about an out-of-control city manager, a blistering report from the city’s financial auditors or problems with delayed sewer bills.
George Orwell reportedly once opined that “Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed; everything else is public relations.”
I happen to agree with Mr. Orwell. The Biddeford Gazette is not here to support the mayor’s or anyone else’s PR strategies. We’re here to tell you all the news; the good, the bad and the ugly.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
To be honest, Marty was not the only one upset about my July 13 editorial. I also heard from a few of the mayor’s closest supporters, all telling me that I was making a mountain out of a molehill. They extolled all the good things that Marty has done and continues to do for the city.
They are right. Marty deserves plenty of credit for some good things, and no one can reasonably argue that he has anything less than enthusiastic passion for his adopted hometown.
In fact, I would say that cheerleading is an important part of what the mayor should be doing. On this front, Marty gets an A+ from me, and I mean that as a sincere compliment.
But was I wrong about a lack of leadership from the mayor’s office?
Marty Grohman announces that he will be seeking reelection with – – another selfie photograph. (Photo: Facebook, Marty’s Community Corner)
Over the last three weeks, we have seen some mounting evidence that supports my argument, most notably from two men who watch the mayor much more closely than most everyone else in the city.
Councilor Norman Belanger and Council President Liam LaFountain have each announced that they will be challenging Grohman for the mayor’s seat.
Both men say the city is currently lacking strong leadership. Belanger is 68, LaFountain is 28. They are very different individuals. They sometimes disagree but they are saying the same thing here: Biddeford needs and deserves strong leadership.
Consider this: Belanger and LaFountain both have a front row view of the mayor. They all attend the same meetings, even those behind-closed-door-executive session meetings where discussions about city personnel or legal matters take place.
Belanger is more of a traditional, old-school Biddeford politician. He is smart, friendly and truly wants what’s best for Biddeford. LaFountain is a younger and more dynamic candidate who will likely appeal to a broad range of citizens with his pledge to increase transparency and data-driven solutions.
Despite their differences, both men say the same thing: Biddeford is lacking real leadership.
During a fairly recent meeting with a resident, Grohman threw up his arms and joked: “I don’t even have the power to decide what sodas are available in the City Hall soda machine.”
Do you think if Jim Grattelo wanted a Mountain Dew in City Hall that his request would be rebuffed by some mid-level bureaucrat?
Are you kidding me? Do you think if Jim Grattelo wanted a Mountain Dew in City Hall that his request would be rebuffed by some mid-level bureaucrat? Or if Joanne Twomey wanted a Dr. Pepper?
Almost one year ago today, I bumped into Marty at a Chamber of Commerce function. At the time, I had given up my role as a reporter in order to orchestrate a full-throttle campaign to get rid of former City Manager Jim Bennett. (Hindsight now reveals that I was on the side of the angels with that campaign).
Marty was not happy about my work. “Why are you doing this to me?” he asked in a frustrated tone. “I’ve only been in office six months.”
Marty didn’t complain that I was making the city look bad, or even that I was making the city manager look bad. His complaint was that my work to oust Bennett also made Marty look bad. And that’s a big no-no.
I do not think Marty is a bad mayor, but I do think the city needs strong leadership.
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That’s my perspective, and I welcome yours. The Biddeford Gazette is always more than happy to publish letters to the editor, op-eds or columns about Biddeford, its people, places and politics from our readers.
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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The race to become Biddeford’s next mayor has now turned into a three-way contest.
City Council President Liam LaFountain told the Biddeford Gazette this week that he will give up his Ward Seven council seat to join the race for mayor.
LaFountain now joins fellow city councilor Norman Belanger in opposing incumbent Mayor Marty Grohman.
“I’ve had many conversations with neighbors across the city, and there’s a clear message coming through. Too many decisions are being made without enough accountability, and I agree,” LaFountain said. “City government exists to serve the public. People are frustrated because they feel unheard, and in recent years, we’ve drifted away from the kind of leadership that takes responsibility and delivers results. It’s time for a course correction.”
LaFountain, a former member of the city’s Recreation Commission, first joined the council in 2021. Two years later, he was unopposed for his reelection to represent Ward Seven. He then won a bid to become the council president (6-3) ousting Belanger from that role.
Liam LaFountain (File Photo)
“The public interest must be at the center of every decision Biddeford makes,” LaFountain said.
LaFountain, 28, is employed as a senior data analyst for Healthcare Purchaser Alliance, a non-profit organization headquartered in Falmouth. He grew up in Biddeford, and his father Llyod LaFountain served on the Biddeford School Committee and as a state senator in the late 1990s.
The younger LaFountain is often described by his peers and other political observers as “thoughtful, analytical, measured and hard-working.”
LaFountain said that his professional experience as a data analyst will help him bring a fact-based, detail-oriented approach to City Hall. “I know for sure that smart decisions start with good information,” he said.
In recent months, LaFountain has pointedly raised concerns about controversial development deals involving credit enhancements and tax increment financing, proposals that have drawn the ire of many residents.
“Pointing out only the good news doesn’t solve problems. The voters know we have serious problems, and they want hard facts.
True leadership is telling the truth about a difficult issue and then finding the best solution.”
“Voters are smart, and the last thing I’ll ever do is insult their intelligence,” LaFountain said. “Yes, Biddeford is a great city, yes, fantastic things have been happening here in the last decade, and yes, that will continue. But we can no longer gloss over the very real staffing, financial, and accountability challenges.
“Pointing out only the good news doesn’t solve problems,” he added. “The voters know we have serious problems, and they want hard facts. True leadership is telling the truth about a difficult issue and then finding the best solution.”
LaFountain said he is encouraged that he’s already drawing support from a wide range of Biddeford residents, people with different perspectives, experiences, and priorities, who also strongly agree that a fresh approach and much more transparency are needed.
“I’m getting tons of encouragement for the idea that Biddeford should work for the people, not around them,” he said. “Voters are not inconvenient obstacles, in fact, quite the contrary. I look to Biddeford residents as a source of wisdom for city officials, and we need their full participation as we get back to basics with honest conversations, thoughtful planning, and decisions that serve the public good.”
LaFountain said his goals include increasing public engagement, strengthening oversight of city operations, and upholding the city’s fiduciary responsibility to manage taxpayer resources wisely, while advancing priorities like recreation investment, capital infrastructure, and responsible development that serves Biddeford’s long-term interests.
“I want every resident and taxpayer to know that, in my opinion. we need to right this ship and guesswork isn’t good enough. Data analysis will get us to evidence-based, forward-thinking policies that prioritize the public good over narrow interests. I hope to win the support of every Biddeford voter who agrees with that,” LaFountain said.
LaFountain graduated from Cheverus High School in 2015 and then attended Gonzaga University, a Jesuit school in Washington state, where he earned a degree in international relations.
He and his partner, Eisha, have been married five years and live on Elm Street.
Note:The Biddeford Gazette previously reported that both Marty Grohman and Norman Belanger are running for the mayor’s seat in the upcoming election. The Gazette plans to continue its comprehensive coverage of this year’s election, and we will have future stories about all the candidates,
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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Roughly a dozen people gathered Tuesday at the McArthur Library in Biddeford to discuss local journalism and a rapidly changing media landscape.
The event was part of a statewide listening tour coordinated by The Maine Monitor, an online publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, and intended to collect public feedback about how people perceive and access local news.
The July 29 event in Biddeford was co-sponsored by Saco Bay News, an online digital news outlet founded by former Journal Tribune reporter Liz Gotthelf in 2020.
“We’re here tonight to listen to you,” said Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm, executive director of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting. “We want to know what matters to you when you access news about your community. How do you get your news, and what are the essential things you look for from local media?”
Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman and Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail attended the workshop meeting.
Josh Keefe, a government accountability reporter with the Maine Monitor, shares highlights of a break-out group discussion about local journalism during Tuesday’s event at the McArthur Library. (Seaver photo)
“One of the things I hear all the time from my constituents is that they often don’t know about things happening in the city because they don’t know where to find the information,” MacPhail said.
During his remarks, Grohman touched upon a common theme that was shared by many of the attendees: a lack of a daily print newspaper.
“I’m constantly looking for credible news,” Grohman said. “With so many different things online, it can be difficult to find credible news.”
Those attending the meeting were largely over the age of 50 and many of them reported having a hard time getting news that is both locally relevant and comprehensive.
Susan Gold of Saco is a former reporter and editor who worked many years at the Journal Tribune, the former daily newspaper that served northern York County for more than a century.
“It’s great that local governments are doing more to share news about what is happening in the community, but we also need an unbiased person to explain what is actually happening, and we need to be able to trust the accuracy of those reports,” Gold said.
According to Schweitzer-Bluhm, rural communities across Maine are being hit especially hard by a changing media landscape that has seen newsrooms shrink and local coverage evaporate.
“The heyday of print journalism gave readers coverage of town government but also issues that bind the community, whether it’s high school sports, obituaries or public notices about meetings and events,” she explained.
In just the last decade, the Biddeford-Saco area has seen a seismic change in how local news is gathered and shared.
The Portland Press Herald once maintained a local bureau on Main Street in Biddeford that housed operations for reporters, photographers and editors who covered news and events throughout Northern York County.
In 2020, the Journal Tribune, an afternoon daily newspaper based in Biddeford, ceased publication. And the weekly Biddeford-Saco Courier, which was locally owned and operated, was sold to a media conglomerate and ceased print publication earlier this year.
Those changes have many residents wondering where to turn when it comes to finding credible and accurate local news.
Several people said social media sites such as Facebook are filling some of the void when it comes to news and information, but also said social media has many pitfalls, including questionable accuracy and fairness.
“You have people attempting to report news who have no editorial oversight or training,” one woman said.
Ted Sirois of Saco said he misses the opportunity to write letters to the editor and finds himself concerned about bias in news reporting.
Today the Biddeford Saco area is served by three digital news platforms. Saco Bay News is an independent online-only publication that covers the communities of Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach.
The Biddeford Gazette, started in January this year, is another independent, online-only publication that provides hyper-local coverage of Biddeford news and events.
The Courier is now delivered as an electronic, weekly newsletter that also covers Northern York County.
The Portland Press Herald, Maine’s largest daily newspaper, today rarely covers day-to-day, local news in the Biddeford-Saco area.
“It’s certainly not like the old days,” bemoaned former Biddeford City Councilor Patricia Boston. “I miss the days of print newspapers, but I do my best to follow news in both the Gazette and Saco Bay News. It’s important for people to know what is happening in their community.”
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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Several potential candidates have taken out qualifying nomination forms for mayor, city council and school committee races in Biddeford.
Some familiar names are hoping to make a political comeback, but there are also several people seeking office who have never served before.
Former City Councilors Roger Hurtubise, John McCurry and Bobby Mills are all hoping to return to the council. Former candidate Gregg Shapiro who ran for an at-large seat on the council in 2023 is making another run for that seat this year. Shapiro has also taken out papers for the Ward Six seat being vacated by Norman Belanger who will be running for mayor this year.
Bobby Mills/Facebook photo
Political newcomers Dominic Deschambault, David Kurtz, Jim LaBelle, Sterling Gray Roop and Abigail Woods have all expressed interest in city council seats. Deschambault has been previously elected to the school committee.
Current councilors Roger Beaupre, Dylan Doughty and Marc Lessard have all indicated that they will seek reelection.
Political heavyweight Lisa Vadnais — a current member of the school committee — has also taken out papers for one of two at-large seats on the council.
In the last two election cycles (2023 and 2021), no one candidate has earned more overall votes than Vadnais. In 2023, she earned 3,374 votes for school committee. The next highest vote-getter was At-Large Councilor Marc Lessard with 3,021 votes and Mayor Martin Grohman with 2,894 votes.
Two years earlier, Vadnais garnered 3,297 votes for her return to the school committee. The next highest vote-getter that year was former mayor Alan Casavant with 3,237 votes, easily fending off a challenge by Victoria Foley for a sixth consecutive term.
City Clerk Robin Patterson said her office will be making weekly updates regarding who has taken out papers and who has turned them in for verification. All elected positions in the city — including mayor, city council and school committee — are up for grabs.
In order to have their names on the November 4 ballot, all candidates must turn in their papers no later than 4p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025.
As of Tuesday, July 29, two candidates — Incumbent Martin Grohman and City Councilor Norman Belanger — have taken out papers for the mayor’s seat. Grohman is currently serving his first term and Belanger is a former council president.
CITY COUNCIL RACES:
Ward One. Incumbent Bill Emhiser will not seek a fourth term. Jim LaBelle, former director of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce, has expressed interest in that seat, but has not yet taken out nomination forms, according to the city clerk’s office.
Ward Two: Incumbent Scott Whiting announced on social media that he will not seek a third term. Former city council president John McCurry told the Gazette last week that he will seek a return to the council. Abigail Woods, a former city employee, announced on Facebook that she will also seek the seat. Both McCurry and Woods have taken out papers but not returned them.
Former Council President John McCurry, hoping to return to the Ward Two seat.
Ward Three: Incumbent Roger Beaupre is looking for a second term and has already submitted his nomination papers. So far, no other candidates have expressed interest in that seat.
Ward Four: Former Councilor Bobby Mills is once again hoping to make a political comeback. Mills resigned his council seat just four months after the last election, following an interaction with the Biddeford Police Department. Mills also resigned his position as York County Treasurer.
Just days after submitting his resignation, Mills tried to rescind that decision, saying he was pressured by Mayor Marty Grohman to resign. Grohman adamantly denied that claim. Dylan Doughty, a former Planning Board member, was unopposed in a special election to replace Mills. Doughty is hoping to keep the Ward Four seat.
Mills has already turned in his nomination forms.
Political Newcomer Abigail Woods is seeking the Ward 2 seat
Ward Five: Incumbent Neva Gross said she will not seek re-election after being appointed by Mayor Grohman to replace former councilor Julian Schalver who resigned the seat in April 2024. Dominic Deschambault submitted his name for consideration, but Grohman instead chose Gross to fill the seat.
Deschambault has been active in Biddeford policy for more than a decade. He previously served on the school committee; and was chair of the Biddeford Housing Authority’s board of directors. Deschambault also served on the Charter Revision Commitee, Capital Improvements and the Downtown Parking Committee.
Dominic Deschambault has taken out papers for Ward 5 and At-Large
Deschambault also took out papers for an at-large seat on the City Council. He told the Gazette Tuesday that he is not yet sure which seat he will pursue
David Kurtz, a Biddeford attorney and member of the city’s Waste Management Commission, said he has been attending council meetings for the last several months and would like to be more involved in the city’s policy making arena.
Ward Six: Former Councilor Roger Hurtubise is hoping to return to the council. Incumbent Norman Belanger is giving up the seat in order to run for mayor. Hurtubise has already turned in his nomination forms. Gregg Shapiro who ran unsuccessfully for an at-large seat on the council two years ago– has taken out papers for both Ward Six and at-large.
Ward Seven: City Council President Liam LaFountain has not yet taken out nomination forms.
At Large: There is a crowded field for the two available at-large seats. Marc Lessard is hoping to keep his seat. Incumbent Doris Ortiz will not be seeking reelection.
In addition to Deschambault, Lessard, Shapiro and Vadnais, Sterling Gray Roop of Pinewood Circle, has taken out nomination forms for one of the two at-large seats.
Today, July 24, is the first day that political hopefuls in Biddeford can take out nomination forms in order to have their names on the November 4 ballot.
Every local office is up for grabs: mayor, city council, school committee and ward clerks.
I have been covering Biddeford politics for 30 years, and I always look forward to this day and all the inside-baseball stuff that is going on behind the scenes.
This morning, I received no fewer than 22 text messages from people wondering about who is running and who is not. They want the latest scoop, the latest gossip.
NEW BOSS, NEW RULES
Traditionally, pesky reporters and political observers were able to get updated information daily from the City Clerk’s office, but that tradition ended two years after Robin Patterson was sworn in as city clerk.
Patterson is putting a new procedure in place. She will update a list each Tuesday of candidates who have turned in qualifying nomination forms. This procedure, Patterson told me, meets all state requirements and makes it fair for all involved.
While I miss the informality of just popping into City Hall to get the latest scoop about who is running, Patterson’s new process does strike me as a fair compromise and will likely cut down on the rumor mill about who is running for what.
INSIDE BASEBALL
Traditionally, the nomination process was akin to a city-wide poker tournament, like a game of Stratego gone haywire.
Some candidates would pull out three or more nomination forms just to throw others off their game. In the late 1990s, it was not uncommon to see candidates simultaneously pull papers for mayor, council, at-large and school committee.
And then? Christmas morning, usually near Labor Day: the deadline day for submitting one set of nomination papers per candidate.
Yes, I miss the old days, but I also think City Clerk Patterson is making the right move. It may be a game for me and some others, but it is serious work for the person entrusted to making sure that our election processes are held to the very highest standards.
All that said, if you want the all the latest updates, you can count on the Biddeford Gazette. We have created a new page dedicated to the 2025 municipal elections in Biddeford. We will update this page as soon as new information becomes available. In fact, we have created a spreadsheet that you can view or download to get the very last updates.
This morning, former city council president John McCurry said he will seek to recapture his Ward Two Seat. Incumbent City Councilors Roger Beaupre (W3) and Dylan Doughty (W4) said they will seek reelection.
To all those stepping forward — or about to step forward — thank you for your willingness to serve.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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A little more than 24 hours before nomination papers are available from the City’s Clerk’s office, and the landscape for this year’s municipal election in Biddeford is already taking shape.
As we first reported on July 11, Incumbent Marty Grohman is hoping for a second term but will face a challenge from Ward Six Councilor Norman Belanger, a former council president who says the city “needs strong leadership.”
Ward One Councilor William Emhiser told the Gazette that he will not seek a fourth term on the council.
Ward One City Councilor William Emhiser (City photo)
Emhiser said he is supporting former Chamber of Commerce executive director Jim LaBelle for the seat. Although the Gazette spoke to LaBelle last week, he has yet to confirm his decision to run.
“Jim is a terrific guy and the right person to take over my seat,” Emhiser said of LaBelle during a brief interview Tuesday. “Jim knows Biddeford, and he brings both passion and integrity to the table.”
LaBelle, a close friend of Mayor Grohman, said he would only run for the seat if Emhiser declined to seek a fourth term.
Jim LaBelle, former executive director, Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce (Courtesy Photo)
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During the last council meeting, Grohman paused the meeting to express a sentiment of appreciation for LaBelle and “his hard work” during a seven-year tenure as the Chamber’s executive director.
Emhiser said he has enjoyed his six years on the council and had high praise for his fellow councilors. “We’re a diverse bunch, but we’ve always been willing to work together and pulling in the same direction.”
At-large Councilor Doris Ortiz told the Gazette last week that she will also not seek another term on the council. Ortiz has served on the council for three terms, beginning in 2019.
At-Large City Councilor Doris Ortiz will not seek reelection (City Photo)
Ward Five Councilor Neva Gross told the Gazette that she also will not seek a return to her seat. Gross was appointed to the council by the mayor after former councilor Julian Schlaver announced that he was resigning in April 2024.
Gross said that she and her partner are looking for real estate that will likely be outside of the Ward Five boundaries.
Abigail Woods, a former city employee, has said on social media that she is interested in the Ward Two council seat now occupied by Scott Whiting. There is no word on whether Whiting will seek reelection for a third term.
Abigail Woods announced on Facebook that she will seek the Ward Two Council seat
Former Ward Six City Councilor Roger Hurtubise told the Gazette that he will be running for the Ward Six seat being vacated by Belanger.
Hurtubise said he is especially concerned about city spending and back-to-back property tax hikes.
“This council needs people who are going to look out for the taxpayers,” Hurtubise said. “I watch all the meetings, and I shake my head at some of the stuff I see,” he said.
Roger Hurtubise is hoping to return to his former Ward Six Council seat
Other potential candidates have said they are watching the political landscape closely and still deciding whether to toss their hats into the ring, including both the mayor’s seat and council seats.
Nomination papers for all open positions will be available, beginning July 24, at the City Clerk’s office.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
NEVER MISS ANOTHER UPDATE!Subscribe for free today!
BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 