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~Letter to the Buzz~ June 11, 2026 By Mike Burman, Saco Resident and Former City Councilor Ward 4 I’ve been following the TA-Saco situation carefully, including the meeting on Wednesday June 10th. To be honest, I found the whole thing embarrassing. For context, I have served two terms as City Councilor for Ward 4, served on the Saco School District strategic planning committee, served as founding member of the Saco Education Foundation (originally Saco STEAM), am a Profess

June 10, 2026, According to preliminary results reported by City of Saco officials, the school budget put before Saco voters on yesterday's ballot, passed by a wide margin with a tally of 3700 votes – 1046 votes. The full list of preliminary results from city officials from yesterday's election can be viewed here: https://www.sacomaine.org/departments/city_clerk/election_results.php ---Biddeford's trusted news source; SHORT ● SIMPLE ● TO THE POINT 🗣 Local news For YOU, By YO

By Karen Garnett, Saco School Department, Contributing Writer June 8, 2026, Hundreds of young learners at Young School in Saco recently embarked on an unforgettable ocean adventure as "Chunk the Whale," a massive 43-foot inflatable humpback whale, arrived at the school. The interactive "Whale of a Day" program, sponsored by the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), gave students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 the unique opportunity to step inside the life-sized whale and explor

By Karen Garnett, Saco School Department, Contributing Writer June 1, 2026, After 24 grueling hours, 11,115 made NBA three-pointers, and an unforgettable final hour fueled by the cheers of hundreds of students, Saco Middle School (SMS) physical education teacher Ryan Martin, also known as “Dr. Buckets,” has added a fifth world record title. Martin shattered the previous Guinness World Record record of 10,703 NBA three-pointers made in a 24-hour period, adding a fourth Guinnes

~Letter to the Buzz~ May 30, 2026 By Haley Magnell, Secretary, Thornton Academy Alumni Board, TA Class 2010 Dear Biddeford Buzz, Saturday was a landmark day for the Thornton Academy community as students, alumni, families, faculty, staff, and supporters gathered to celebrate the official unveiling of the new Miles Field House, one of the largest athletic facility investments ever made by a Maine high school. The opening of the impressive new facility marks a significant miles

By Karen Garnett, Biddeford School Department, Contributing Writer May 15, 2026, For 31 years, the Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club has encouraged local students to reflect on one of life’s most meaningful topics through its annual eighth-grade essay contest. Each year, the contest invites students from Biddeford, Saco, and Old Orchard Beach schools to explore the theme, “What the Word Family Means to Me,” which focuses on the students’ views of the importance of family life, their

"Staff will be available to assist students in contacting home when needed..." Please note: This article pertains to the entire district (all schools in Saco, Biddeford and Dayton). May 6, 2026, Recently, the Maine Legislature made updates to LD 2212 that included a provision requiring all public schools in Maine to adopt (and enforce) a "bell-to-bell" cell phone policy. According to Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Ray, "Beginning August 1, 2026, all public schools across Ma

By Karen Garnett, Contributing Writer April 27, 2026, The Saco School Department invites the community to experience the creativity and talent of its young artists at the upcoming PreK–Grade 8 Art Show, on display at the Dyer Library/Saco Museum. A special opening celebration will be held on Friday, May 1, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., offering families, friends, and community members the opportunity to explore the exhibit together. The artwork will remain on display th

By Chelsea Miller, Contributed Story “At the heart of this is a simple belief: Maine’s kids deserve to be safe, seen and supported, right here at home,” says Mark Jones, CEO of Saco & Biddeford Savings. April 21 2026, Saco & Biddeford Savings and Paquin & Carroll Insurance are proud to announce their $20,000 donation to Sweetser in support of the construction of Maine’s first Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) on Sweetser’s Saco campus.​This transformative proj

By Karen Garnett, Contributing Writer March 9, 2026, Students at CK Burns School came together last week to promote kindness, respect, and inclusion through a school-wide “Spread the Word” Cookie Walk, organized by the school’s Best Buddies program. During the event on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, students learned about the power of words and how choosing respectful language helps build a school community where everyone feels valued, included, and supported. As part of the activ

By Karen Garnett, Contributing Writer February 12, 2026 – Leadership doesn’t always come with a title—and that message is resonating loudly with eighth-grade students at Saco Middle School (SMS), thanks to the real-world experiences of Jackson Howard, a senior at Thornton Academy and an EMS student at the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology (BRCOT). Howard is currently enrolled in BRCOT’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program and previously completed the Intro to Medi

By Karen Garnett, Contributing Writer February 10, 2026, Dayton Consolidated School (DCS) officially launched its new composting program last Friday with a school-wide assembly, marking an important step forward in the school’s commitment to sustainability, hands-on learning, and environmental responsibility. Dayton Consolidated School students participate in an interactive recycling and composting presentation during a school-wide assembly by EcoMaine, learning how to proper

February 2, 2026, Students from Biddeford and Saco schools showcased their spelling skills last month during their respective school Spelling Bees, earning top honors and advancing to the York County Spelling Bee on February 9, 2026, at Saco Middle School. Due to limited space, the event is not open to the public. (L-R) CK Burns School’s Spelling Bee Champion Sage Daicy and Runner-up Peter Galasyn. At CK Burns School, fifth-grade students Sage Daicy claimed the championship b

January 27, 2026, in a statement released yesterday from the leadership at the First Parish Congregational Church UCC located at 12 Beach St, Saco, the church informed the public of what they are claiming to be an illegal abduction by ICE of one of the members of their congregation. The statement from the church reads as follows: "This past Sunday, a member of our First Parish Congregational Church of Saco family, Makengo, welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. She is

By Haley Thompson President, Biddeford and Saco Rotary Club BIDDEFORD/SACO/DAYTON, Maine – December 18, 2025 – This holiday season, the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club once again demonstrated the power of community through its annual Adopt-A-Family Program, ensuring that 200 local children experienced the joy of Christmas morning. Despite the growing need, Rotarians and their helpers remained undeterred—managing every aspect of the program, from shopping and wrapping to organizing

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

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

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

⚠️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

Media Contact: Karen Garnett (207) 391-6871 kgarnett@biddefordschools.me Students Launch “Spare Change Fills Plates” Campaign to Fight Food Insecurity BIDDEFORD/SACO, Maine – October 28, 2025 – Beginning October 29th, students across the Biddeford, Saco, and Dayton school districts are joining forces to help fight hunger in their own backyards through a new initiative called “Spare Change Fills Plates.” The campaign comes at a critical time, as SNAP benefits end for many