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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

“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

-LD 2122 would ensure funding for SNAP benefits in the event of a federal shutdown- March 5, 2026, Maine House Speaker Ryan D. Fecteau (D-Biddeford) today introduced LD 2122, An Act to Prevent Negative Impacts from Federal Funding Changes to and Fund Eligibility Determinations and Outreach for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which will make sure our state gets the federal food assistance funds we were expected to receive before Congress passed Trump’s “Big Bad

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

The event, part of UNE’s enhanced workforce-ready initiatives, left many students with newfound confidence in breaking the ice By Deirdre Fleming Stires, Contributing Writer UNE February 25, 2026, In a crowded communal area in the University of New England’s Ripich Commons on the evening of Feb. 18, the University's first Career Connections Mixer got off to a rousing start. And the impromptu conversations between employers, alumni, local civic leaders, entrepreneurs, faculty,

Contributed Story "The program encourages municipalities, regional associations, and businesses operating in Maine to submit proposals that contribute to sustainable waste management strategies." February 25, 2026, The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is excited to announce the first round of grant submissions aimed at developing, implementing, or enhancing innovative projects, programs, and activities designed to increase the diversion of solid waste from d

By Danica Lamontagne, Contributing Writer February 24, 2026, Nomination Papers for the City of Biddeford’s Charter Revision Commission will be available on Monday, March 2 in the City Clerk’s Office at Biddeford City Hall. The City of Biddeford’s Charter outlines how its government is structured and how it operates. State law requires that if any changes are to be made to the Charter, a Charter Revision Commission must be created to review the Charter and propose revisions. B

“The community center, long neglected with a band-aid approach, is the true Jewel of Biddeford.. I think it's time to really give this building the TLC it deserves…” February 22, 2026, Below is an op-ed that we received from Biddeford resident Diane Cyr pertaining to the discussion of which projects city leaders should prioritize when allocating the recreational bond funds approved by voters in the November 2025 election. REMINDER - In addition to submitting op-eds, residents

“Donald Trump is a threat to our country, our state, our democracy, and our values…. I’ve stood up to Trump to protect our state before, and I’m ready to do so again.” - Dr. Nirav Shah February 20, 2026, Yesterday, Maine gubernatorial candidate and former Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah, released what his campaign is referring to as a plan to “Safeguard Maine from Trump. Dr. Shah’s announcement states, “Donald Trump is a threat to our country, our state, our democracy, and

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

"This is about more than concrete and ramps. It is about trust. It is about accountability. And it is about showing this community — especially its young people — that when they show up and speak, their government listens." February 17, 2026, at tonight's City Council meeting, former Biddeford City Councilor Neva Lance and her wife Samanntha Lance, advocated passionately to the Biddeford City Council in support of spending recreation bond funds on a new skate park for the cit

February 17, 2026, at tonight's City Council Meeting, multiple (the majority) attendees spoke in support of spending recreation bond funds (approved during the 2025 election) on rebuilding a skate park in Biddeford. And although other projects were referenced by individuals, the skate park overwhelmingly recieved the largest amount of support from meeting attendees. Following a new skate park, both maintaining the Community Center and cleaning up the trails at Clifford Park w

February 17, 2026, At this evening’s Biddeford City Council Meeting, with a tied vote of 4 to 4 that was broke by Mayor LaFountain, councilors voted AGAINST approving a resolution in support of LD 2124, an “Act to Support Emergency Shelter Funding using Real Estate Transfer Tax Revenue” Meeting materials state that under current law, 90% of the revenue from the real estate transfer tax is submitted to the State and 10% is retained by the counties, except that, for fiscal year

By Tammy Wells, Contributing Writer February 16, 2026, York County Commissioners understand the need to support the unhoused through shelter subsidies and are urging legislators to seek ways to support them within the state’s coffers, not the counties’ far slimmer purse. In testimony to the Legislature’s Housing and Economic Development Committee at a public hearing Feb. 10, they urged committee members to vote “ought not to pass,” on L.D. 2124, a bill that would further dip

By Danica Lamontagne, Contributing Writer February 13, 2026, The Biddeford City Council is inviting residents to attend upcoming Ward Meetings this February and March to discuss neighborhood priorities, community concerns, and the future of recreation in the city. Hosted by individual councilors in venues located within or near each Ward, the meetings are designed to provide residents with an opportunity for open dialogue and direct engagement with their elected officials. Re