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By Deirdre Fleming Stires, Contributing Writer April 7, 2026, The University of New England hosted its bi-annual President's Forum Monday, April 6, at the Harold Alfond Forum in Biddeford bringing together faculty, staff students, and members of the larger Biddeford community to examine how American higher education became a flashpoint in the nation's culture wars — and what it might take to reclaim its footing. The discussion took place at a charged moment. Recent headlines

"An Act to Strengthen Consumer Protections by Prohibiting Liens on Principal Residences and Wage Garnishments for Medical Debt, was sponsored by Sen. Donna Bailey of Saco, a cancer survivor who has championed Legislative efforts to safeguard Maine people from harmful impacts of medical debt." April 6, 2026, According to a press release sent directly to the Biddeford Buzz earlier today, Governor Janet Mills announced the signing of "LD 2129, legislation to protect Maine people

🗣ATTENTION! YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED! *THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK DIRECTLY TO CITY COUNCILORS AND STAFF* April 6, 2026, The next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 7 at 6 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers and via Microsoft Teams. At the meeting, there will be a Public Hearing on the City of Biddeford's City Government Budget as presented by the City Manager. In addition, the 2nd Reading (which includes a vote) on the amended Household Waste De

By Brian Lee, Contributed Story April 3, 2026, Today, Gov. Janet Mills signed into law a measure sponsored by Rep. Marc Malon, D-Biddeford, that will help safeguard Mainers from gambling addiction by prohibiting the use of credit cards in online wagers. As amended, LD 2080 will prevent gambling operators or management services with licenses in the state from accepting credit cards to fund both sports wagering and Internet gaming (iGaming). The latter has been operational in

By Alan Bennett, Contributing Writer, UNE Office of Communications April 3, 2026, Researchers from the University of New England have installed specialized wave-monitoring equipment off the coast of Saco to better understand how a planned coastal engineering project may reshape shoreline conditions near Camp Ellis. UNE students Elizabeth O’Brien (left) and Lincoln Smith deployed gauges to measure wave activity near the new to-be-constructed spur jetty in Camp Ellis. A crew of

"Applications can be picked up at Biddeford Housing Authority during normal business hours. Alternatively, if you would like an application mailed to you, have questions or need assistance, please call Biddeford Housing Authority at (207)282-6537 or email Dorothy Guindon at dguindon@bhousing.org" April 3, 2026, According to officials, Residents seeking affordable housing opportunities in Biddeford are now able to submit their application to live at the nearly completed Adams

By Danica Lamontagne, Contributing Writer April 1, 2026, City Manager Truc Dever has asked the City Council to support her nomination of Brian Clark as the City of Biddeford’s next Economic Development Director. Clark is a senior leader and administrator with over twenty years of experience transforming and repositioning higher education institutions and growing the capacity of mission-driven organizations to maximize their impact in the community. Clark most recently served

By Karen Garnett, Contributing Writer April 1, 2026, For generations of students, athletes, and families in Biddeford, Don Wilson was more than an educator; he was a mentor, a coach, and a steady presence who helped shape the heart of the community. Now, the Biddeford School Department is inviting the community to honor his legacy through the Don Wilson Memorial Fitness Campaign, part of a $200,000 project to renovate and revitalize the school’s fitness center in his name. Th

By Karen Garnett, Contributing Writer March 30, 2026, The Biddeford School Department has taken a significant step toward a more sustainable and cost-efficient future with the installation of a rooftop solar energy system at Biddeford High School (BHS). The project reflects the district’s ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility, fiscal stewardship, and innovative solutions that benefit both students and taxpayers. The solar array will generate clean, renewable elec

By Danica Lamontagne, Contributing Writer March 26, 2026, The City of Biddeford has contracted with Gorham Sand & Gravel to separate combined sewer lines on Alfred Street (between Summer Street and Porter Street), as well as Mt. Vernon Street, Birch Street, and Porter Street. The project is being completed as part of the City of Biddeford’s ongoing sewer separation efforts as required by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The previous single-pipe sewer system w

March 23, 2026, the following statement was sent directly to the Biddeford Buzz today from Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain regarding the recent dimissal of a court case brought forward by the City pertaining to the University of New England’s proposed pier. The dismissal and additional information about the complaint can be viewed here: https://www.biddefordbuzz.com/post/biddeford-court-dismisses-city-s-complaint-une-saco-river-corridor-commission Mayor LaFountain writes: “I

The ruling goes on to state, "even if the city had first requested the Commission reconsider the 2024 permit and waited for it to render a final agency action before appealing to this court, the deadline for judicial review is long expired under the Maine law." March 23, 2026, this past November the City of Biddeford filed a formal complaint with the York Judicial Court System seeking judicial review of a permit (#20-491) granted by the Saco River Corridor Commission, to the

"Biddeford officials’ decision to freeze all development on the university’s campus is a mistake. UNE is not a problem to be managed.... UNE is not a burden to this city. It is one of our greatest assets. Let’s act like it." By Alan Casavant and Marty Grohman Alan Casavant served as mayor of Biddeford from 2011 to 2023. Marty Grohman served as the city’s mayor from 2023 to 2025. March 22, 2026, Biddeford has blossomed into one of Maine’s most dynamic communities. Once derided

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

“If approved, residents would still have to purchase the orange overflow bags, would be limited to placing only 2 bags per weekly trash pick-up, and would need to balance their overflow trash bags on top of their green trash containers.” March 20, 2026, Residents may soon experience a big change in how weekly trash pick-up occurs. At this week's city council meeting, Public Works Director Jeff Demers addressed city councilors requesting clarification regarding a current city

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

"I, Liam LaFountain, Mayor of the City of Biddeford, do hereby recognize Friday, March 19, 2026 as Eid al-Fitr in our City and encourage residents to join in recognizing the significance of this celebration." March 17, 2026, at tonight's City Council Meeting, Mayor Liam LaFountain read a proclamation formally recognizing March 19, 2026 as Eid al-Fitr in the City of Biddeford. According to sources online, Eid al-Fitr, or the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," is a major three-da

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 Tammy Wells/York County Government Media March 4, 2026, York County Jail has earned a 100 percent score on their recent biennial state inspection. That means the 294-bed facility aced all 145 mandatory standards, and all 95 essential standards for 2024 and 2025. The 100 percent rating is a first for York County Jail. “We’ve been close, gotten scores into the 90s, but never 100 percent,” said York County Jail Administrator Major Lori Marks. York County Jail Administrator Ma

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