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By Alan Bennett, Assistant Director of Communications, UNE March 20, 2026, The University of New England announced today that 166 graduating physicians have matched to residencies in Maine, New England, and beyond, with over 50% heading to primary care posts amid a national shortage of primary care providers. The Match Day celebration was held at UNE’s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences, which is home to Maine’s only medical school located in the recently inaugurated Har

BIDDEFORD | Somebody Messed Up | 60k and a Story with Two Titles TITLE 1: CITY MESSES UP BIG TITLE 2: ICE ARENA MESSES UP BIG March 18, 2026, Bare with us… we feel the easiest way to accurately paint this picture, is to present it in 4 short, but pointed “parts”. Let’s begin. Part 1: The Whistleblower During this past Tuesday’s Finance Committee Meeting, Biddeford’s Finance Director Gerry Matherne, informed committee members that the City has not received payments from the Bi

March 11, 2026, the below message was sent directly to the Biddeford Buzz from University of New England President Dr. James Herbert regarding the proposed research pier on the Saco River. Dr. James Herbert, President of the University of New England "Dear Members of the Biddeford Community, In recent months there has been significant discussion about the University of New England’s proposed research pier on the Saco River. I understand that projects affecting our waterfront

By Delilah Poupore, Executive Director, Heart of Biddeford March 4, 2026, From bánh mì to barbecue, specialty coffee to steak frites, arcade combos to raclette, Biddeford–Saco Restaurant Week returns March 15–22, 2026, inviting residents and visitors to explore the region’s dynamic and ever-growing food scene. Organized by Saco Main Street, Heart of Biddeford, and the Biddeford Saco Chamber of Commerce, Restaurant Week in Biddeford and Saco has its own personality -- distinct

By Liam LaFountain, Mayor of Biddeford March 1, 2026, On Monday, March 2 at 6:00 p.m., the Institutional Zone Review Committee will hold its first  public hearing at City Hall . The meeting begins the public input phase of a broader review of  how Biddeford regulates institutional development.  For many residents, the term “ Institutional Zone ”  may not be familiar. In practical terms, it is  the zoning framework that governs development at the University of New England’s B

February 26, 2026, The City of Biddeford property tax bills for the second half of Fiscal Year 2026 are now available online using Invoice Cloud and have been mailed to residents. Payments will be due on April 1, 2026. According to city officials, The most efficient way to pay your tax bill is to pay by EFT (e-check) through Invoice Cloud, our online bill payment service. There is a $0.60 service fee for payment processing, which is charged by the vendor. Access this option b

February 25, 2026, The City of Biddeford is accepting proposals to select qualified traffic planning and engineering firms to evaluate the existing 5-Points Intersection and explore new concept designs to improve safety and mobility. 5-Points Intersection - Image via Google Maps Per the City’s recently awarded SS4A Federal Grant, the Consultant will analyze the existing complex 5-Points Intersection through data gathering and traffic modeling to develop a handful of concept d

February 18, 2026, at last night’s city council meeting, Biddeford City Manager Truc Dever informed councilors and the Mayor, that according to a memo she received from Alan Thibault (UNE Vice President for University Operations), the University of New England is "considering working with Unitil on an extension of the natural gas main from downtown to the UNE campus." VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED HERE: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DZ5FiBJRr/ The full memo shared by City Manager D

By Tammy Wells/York County government, Contributing Writer February 9, 2026, Two local banks with deep roots in York County are leading the way in helping build the York County Substance Use Treatment and Recovery Center. Partners Bank and Kennebunk Savings have each contributed $150,000 to First County Foundation, Inc. earmarked for the York County Substance Use Treatment and Recovery Center, and paused for a photo on Feb. 9. Shown here are York County Manager Greg Zinser, F

February 3, 2026, At this evening’s Biddeford City Council Meeting, councilors voted unanimously in favor to refer the “matter of rent practices in mobile home parks to the Policy Committee for review and recommendation.” This vote comes following a prior meeting where the council denied a request to establish a 90 day moratorium on Mobile Home Lot fee increases in Biddeford. Meeting materials state, “this new order is to refer the topic to the Policy Committee to review and

February 3, 2026, in addition to the already publicized news regarding city staff working with Senator Collins' office to have over 700k of IRS fines waived from a late filing penalty, City Manager Truc Dever also delivered more great news for residents tonight during her City Manager report. After announcing the waving of IRS fines, Dever went on to say, "...additionally I have great news to share. Again, with the help of Senator Collins and her staff, we received news last

February 3, 2026, At tonight's city council meeting, councilors voted to retroactively approve a controversial pilot parking program that has recently found itself at the center of local discussions. The Pilot Program was initiated under previous Mayor Martin Grohman's leadership during the "nightmare on Elm street" construction saga with the intent to provide a parking solution for downtown business owners and their employees. The review of the program was triggered when Cit

“The judicial branch has made countless efforts to appease the primary complaint… Good fences make good neighbor's, but good manners make great neighbors. We cant [can't] please all the people all the time!”, wrote Edward Caron, Building Manager, York County Judicial Center January 30, 2026, A little over 2 weeks ago we shared a story about several Biddeford residents alleging “vindictive behavior” from staff at the York County Judicial Center located at 515 Elm Street (Route

January 28, 2026, Following the approval of a 180 day moratorium by the Biddeford City Council pertaining to development for the University of New England (UNE), the University reached out to the Biddeford Buzz and issued the following statement: "While we do not think the development moratorium is necessary, UNE respects the council’s decision. We appreciate the opportunity for thoughtful dialogue about the future of our campus and its role in the community, and President He

January 28, 2026, According to city officials, the city of Biddeford has been fined by the IRS for a "late filing" in 2021. The penalty assessed by the IRS totals $709,240, plus $543.16 in accrued interest as of April 15, 2024, please see full breakdown below: According to City Manager Truc Dever, the City received the following notices: CP215 dated April 8, 2024- Penalty under IRC Section 6721 for failure to file correct information returns: $354,760 CP215 dated April 15, 20

By Loren McCready, Biddeford Resident January 21, 2026, Last night, Biddeford’s City Council passed a development moratorium affecting the Institutional Zone, making this a moment worth paying attention to. Moratoria are not everyday planning tools. They are typically used when growth is moving faster than infrastructure, land-use regulations, or long-term planning can keep up. State law sets clear limits on when a moratorium may be used.   Under Maine statute, a municipality

January 20, 2026, At this evening’s Biddeford City Council Meeting, councilors voted unanimously in favor to impose a 180 day moratorium on the University of New England “...on all new construction, redevelopment, expansion, conversion or change of use of land or structures within the Institutional (IZ) Zone, and on any such activity, including conversion or change of use, involving *University/College* or *University Uses*, as defined in the City of Biddeford Table of Land U

“Ward 7 Councilor Brad Cote spoke from a very different perspective and even sounded a bit frustrated with some of his peers while stating, “If we can't support a 90 day moratorium… then how on god's green earth are we going to tackle affordable housing”. January 20, 2026, At this evening’s Biddeford City Council Meeting, councilors voted 6 to 3 against instituting a 90 Day Moratorium on Mobile Home Lot Fee Increases in the city of Biddeford… and City hall was packed with con

📰BIDDEFORD | Mayor moves to limit UNE Development January 15, 2026, According to reports and a memo sent to city council, newely elected Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain is proposing a "temporary moratorium" on development projects at the University of New England. Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain Reports also indicate that LaFountain is looking to nominate the University’s president (James Hebert) to serve on the City’s newly established ad hoc Institutional Zone Review commi

📰BIDDEFORD | Sparrow brings musical alchemy to Biddeford and beyond January 13, 2026, What do you get when you combine a cello, banjo, harp, piano, guitar, and some passionate voices? The members of Sparrow call it “chamber folk” and they're eager to share their original take on modern and traditional folk music. Saco resident Bob Wiegers is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and the founder of Sparrow. Ever since moving back to Maine in 2024, Wiegers has been tryi