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How shame, misinformation, and online “experts” make a medical crisis worse—and what real compassion looks like. By Sean Mckenna Every so often on Facebook, someone feels spiritually summoned to explain addiction to the masses. These are usually the same folks who believe WebMD diagnoses can be cured by “rubbing a little dirt on it.” And the most popular Facebook theory of all time? “Addiction is just a choice.” Now, don’t get me wrong— I once thought people chose their probl

December 4, 2025, The Saco School Department and City of Saco marked a historic milestone today as families, city officials, students, educators, and construction partners gathered for the official groundbreaking of its transformative new PreK–5 school campus, representing the long-awaited transformation of the district’s elementary learning environments. (L-R) Saco School Department Assistant Superintendent Meg Parkhurst, City of Saco’s City Council member Jeffrey Onnen, Cou

📰BIDDEFORD | City of Biddeford Files Court Challenge for UNE Pier Approval BIDDEFORD, Maine (December 4, 2025) — The City of Biddeford has filed a Complaint for Review of Final Agency Action in Maine Superior Court seeking a judicial determination that the Saco River Corridor Commission's (SRCC) 2024 approval of a new pier at the University of New England (UNE) is unlawful and invalid. The filing asserts that the SRCC did not apply a binding 2001 permit condition requiring a

PARKING BAN December 1, 2025, There will be a citywide Snow Emergency Parking Ban in effect for the City of Biddeford from 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2 until 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 3. On Tuesday, December 2, parking will be permitted until 10 PM on Main Street between Hill Street and Elm Street for short-term business parking ONLY. Designed by Biddeford Buzz Inauguration attendees may take a shuttle from the Pearl Street Parking Garage to City Hall. The shuttle

Karen Garnett kgarnett@biddefordschools.me BIDDEFORD, Maine– December 1, 2025 – Biddeford School Department is proud to be chosen as a convoy stop for this year’s annual Wreaths Across America “Escort to Arlington” – known as the world’s largest veterans parade. The official presentation will take place on Monday, December 8, 2025, at 9:15 a.m., at Biddeford Middle School, offering students a meaningful opportunity to hear directly from veterans and community leaders about s

The Spirit of the Season: BHS Students Support 103 Families for Thanksgiving BIDDEFORD, Maine – November 25, 2025 – Biddeford High School (BHS) students continued their tradition of service this season as the Student Council led its annual Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive—an effort that has quickly become a cherished example of Tiger Pride in action. (L-R) Fairfield School staff Wendy LeBlanc, Trenton Jackson, and Allison Desjardins deliver Thanksgiving meals to Saco families

November 25, 2025, This morning, city hall personnel confirmed that Brian Phinney, Biddeford's Chief Operating Officer (COO), has formally announced his intended retirement from public service effective January 15, 2026. "Brian has been a huge help to me since I joined the City a few months ago, said City Manager Truc Dever." Dever went on to say, "I appreciate all that he has done for the City of Biddeford and for this community. I wish him all the best in retirement." In a

November 21, 2025, This past Sunday November 16th was the 2025 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. It’s an annual international day to remember those who have been killed on our roads and streets in the past year. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine has publicly stated that so far in 2025 Maine has seen 209 crashes involving pedestrians resulting in 40 serious injuries and 19 fatalities. Our state has also seen 198 crashes involving bicyclists resulting in 29 seriou

-Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening, Bounce Pickle + Play and Match Point Kitchen- “It's amazing, I'll tell you what. Strange twist of fate, literally 30 years ago, I managed the bookland that was next door to here. So to see the plaza go down and come back as it has, is just remarkable." Alex MacPhail, Executive Director, Biddeford Saco Chamber of Commerce + Industry November 20, 2025, This evening, the Biddeford + Saco Chamber of Commerce + Industry Board of Directors, Executiv

November 20, 2025, Saco Middle School (SMS) Bobcat Players proudly present The Wizard of Oz production on Thursday, December 11, 2025, and Friday, December 12, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at Saco Middle School’s Cafeteria. The 60-minute comedy, adapted by Erin Detrick, is designed for middle and high-school-aged performers and brings this beloved classic to life with a fresh, fast-paced twist. The SMS Bobcat Players’ cast and crew includes 50 students led by Drama Club Director Megan

-NO DANGER TO THE PUBLIC- November 19, 2025, Biddeford Police Officers and Biddeford Police Department Crime Scene Unit, have been on the scene of an incident that took place at 13 Oak Street earlier this evening. Neighbors described hearing a loud sound and then seeing emergency vehicles respond to the residence. Later in then evening a body was seen being removed from the home. No more details have been released at this time. Police have confirmed there is currently no dang

“I think it has been really successful. We are at the half way point of the time set aside and the students have already completed 2/3's of the entire workload”, said Delilah Poupore, Executive Director for Heart of Biddeford.  November 16, 2025, If you were downtown today, you may have noticed some younger looking individuals carrying around ladders, totes, lights, and some even climbing trees. Great news, this was not a rebellion!  UNE students hang lights from tress in dow

Saco to Hold Official Groundbreaking for New PreK–5 Schools November 14, 2025, The Saco School Department and City of Saco will celebrate a historic milestone on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. with the official groundbreaking ceremony for the city’s new PreK–5 school campus, a long-anticipated project that will transform elementary education for generations of Saco students. For more than two decades, the community has envisioned new learning spaces that meet the e

Have you ever had someone come up to you and question you about something, and rather than answer the question, you think, “who are you to even be asking me this?”...  Well, in the most anecdotal fashion, that’s exactly what happened at tonight’s UNE Pier appeal hearing; according to the Zoning Board of Appeals and city procedure, the individuals who filed the appeal, can not legally be recognized (qualified) as appellants, therefore, the appeal was denied. November 13, 2025,

⚠️SCHOOL CLOSED ON 11/12/25 - WATER MAIN BREAK November 11, 2025, Attention, a notice was sent out this evening at approximately 6:00 PM to parents of students who attend Saco Middle School informing them of a school closure tomorrow (11/12/25) due to a water main break. The message that was sent to parents can be viewed below and is attached: "Saco Middle School will be CLOSED tomorrow, Wednesday, November 12, 2025, due to a water main break at the school. We are assessing t

📰BIDDEFORD | GRANITE STREET INCIDENT FULLY CONFIRMED - WE WERE CORRECT ICE was not present, full release below: Via Biddeford Police Department, On Sunday, November 9, 2025, at approximately 1:00 AM, a Biddeford police officer conducted a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle. The operator, who initially provided a false name, fled in the vehicle. Officers were able to positively identify the operator as Harley Winchenbach, 33, of Biddeford. Officers learned that Winchenbach

Opinion: Why I Voted YES on 1, It's About Trust, Not Politics By Scott Thibeau November 5, 2025, As a citizen of Biddeford, a local business owner, a Realtor, a Veteran, and the President of the Heart of Biddeford, I recently posted on my personal Facebook page to better understand why the voter ID measure was decisively defeated. I want to be absolutely clear: the views I express on this topic are solely my own  and do not  represent the opinions of any organization I own, l

Opinion: Why It’s So Important that Question 1 Failed By Ian Garcia-Theriault November 5, 2025, Maine voters recently rejected Question 1, which would have required voter ID and rolled back parts of our absentee voting system. I’m relieved it failed—not because I oppose secure elections, but because I see it as the first step down a very familiar slippery slope. Biddeford voters wait in line to drop off completed ballots On the surface, voter ID feels like common sense. We sh