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 … Continue reading Candidates, residents meet during roundtable event
Tag: Randy Seaver
OPINION: Are you ready to rumble?
Today is the first full day of autumn. 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 … Continue reading OPINION: Are you ready to rumble?
OPINION: Councilors offer us a lesson about respect
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 … Continue reading OPINION: Councilors offer us a lesson about respect
Mayor refuses to give up on plan to oust Angers
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 … Continue reading Mayor refuses to give up on plan to oust Angers
Angers will not go quietly into the night
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 … Continue reading Angers will not go quietly into the night
Get on the bus! Check out ‘Childish Things’
Why run from your problems, when you can drive? 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 … Continue reading Get on the bus! Check out ‘Childish Things’
Dupuis Hardware: A local staple trying to survive
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 … Continue reading Dupuis Hardware: A local staple trying to survive
Relief effort continues for fire victims
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 … Continue reading Relief effort continues for fire victims
Ex-city manager wants city to pay expenses for Shriner clown events
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 … Continue reading Ex-city manager wants city to pay expenses for Shriner clown events
City gives non-union employees a modest pay increase
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 -- … Continue reading City gives non-union employees a modest pay increase
OPINION: Biddeford is craving leadership
Three weeks ago, I wrote an opinion piece about Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman and what I described as a “missed opportunity for leadership” on his part. 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 … Continue reading OPINION: Biddeford is craving leadership
LaFountain joins mayoral race in Biddeford
By RANDY SEAVER, Editor 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 … Continue reading LaFountain joins mayoral race in Biddeford
Residents share concerns about local news
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 … Continue reading Residents share concerns about local news
Old faces, new faces vying for office in Biddeford
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 … Continue reading Old faces, new faces vying for office in Biddeford
OPINION: Opening Day; Let’s Play!
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 … Continue reading OPINION: Opening Day; Let’s Play!
Biddeford’s political landscape is heating up
By RANDY SEAVER, editor 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 … Continue reading Biddeford’s political landscape is heating up
NEWSLETTER: Summer In the City
Hopefully, you are all enjoying the beautiful weather this week! I am on semi-vacation, pinging back and forth between our campsite at Rangeley Lake and Biddeford. No matter where you find yourself, this is a good week to be living in Maine. This is also a very good week for those of us who closely … Continue reading NEWSLETTER: Summer In the City
What is ‘affordable’ housing?
You see it all the time. Whenever elected officials or media outlets use the words “affordable housing,” there is often an almost immediate pushback from people who say those housing units are not really “affordable.” This is especially true in the city of Biddeford, the latest community to join southern Maine’s so-called “gold coast.” Until … Continue reading What is ‘affordable’ housing?
OPINION: A missed opportunity for leadership
According to his Facebook campaign page, Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman is “feeling frustrated” about being called out for not disclosing some relevant campaign donations made to his mayoral campaign nearly two years ago. Apparently, Marty still doesn’t get why I mentioned his failure to disclose those donations in my story about a large-scale development that … Continue reading OPINION: A missed opportunity for leadership
EXCLUSIVE: Belanger will run for mayor in Biddeford
Biddeford City Councilor Norman Belanger confirmed Friday that he will be running against Mayor Marty Grohman to become the city's next mayor. Belanger, 68, has served on the council since 2017, including two years as council president. When asked why he is running, Belanger said: "The city needs strong leadership, and I believe I am … Continue reading EXCLUSIVE: Belanger will run for mayor in Biddeford
BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 