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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,

“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

"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

By Deirdre Fleming Stires, Contributing Writer February 14, 2026, The University of New England’s dining service provider, Parkhurst Dining, set out to raise $10,000 last fall for Maine's only full-service children's hospital through a fund-raising campaign that culminated in a holiday lunch served on UNE”s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences. UNE's Parkhurst Dining team more than doubled last year's fund-raising effort in the Caring for Kids campaign. In the end, UNE’s P

By Karen Garnett, Contributing Writer February 13, 2026, In the months since receiving $275,000 through the Maine Housing Student Homelessness Prevention Pilot, Biddeford School Department has emerged as a regional leader in addressing student housing instability—coordinating a multi-district effort that is already surpassing expectations. As the lead applicant and consortium coordinator, Biddeford School Department brought together five school departments, including Biddefor

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 Mackenzie Schors, Biddeford Buzz Contributing Writer Now celebrating their 10 year anniversary, UNE has been hosting their annual “Teddy Bear Toss” (TBT) game every year since 2017 - Here’s a glimpse into what TBT weekend looks like for the community and the UNE Nor’easters: February 11, 2026, What began as a small, community-focused initiative in 2017 has grown into one of the University of New England’s most beloved traditions. This year marked the 10th anniversary of

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 6, 2026, Student providers from the University of New England’s doctoral College of Dental Medicine and undergraduate Department of Dental Hygiene welcomed 85 elementary- and secondary-age students from Maine Regional School District (RSU) 23, serving the community of Old Orchard Beach, to the University’s Oral Health Center on Friday, Feb. 6, for UNE’s fifth annual “Give Kids a Smile” event. Eighty-eight students from RSU 23 received a full slate of preventive denta

February 2, 2026, Two Biddeford High School (BHS) students are being recognized for their award-winning artwork in the prestigious Scholastic Art and Writing Awards at the Maine College of Art & Design (MECA) in Portland next month. BHS Junior Brynn Wilkinson earned a Silver Key Award for her "Drawn by Light", an 8-by-10 acrylic still-life painting, and BHS Sophomore Shayleigh Kennedy earned an Honorable Mention for her "Chromatic Shades of Me", an 18-by-24 portrait. The prog

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 30, 2026, Disney’s Moana JR. is playing at Biddeford Middle School’s Performing Arts Center on Thursday, February 12, 2026, and Friday, February 13, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. each evening. The 60-minute musical, adapted from the book by Susan Soon He Stanton and the 2016 Disney animated film, brings the adventures of Moana and her village of Motunui to life onstage. The Biddeford Middle School Drama Club’s cast includes 85 students led by Coleen Hatt and Rob Petit. “Much lik

📰SACO | Man Flees on Foot as ICE Agents approach him January 29, 2026, Footage submitted to the Biddeford Buzz that was taken earlier this morning, appears to show a male fleeing on foot on Green Street in Saco Maine as he was approached by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The individual who recorded the video wishes to remain anonymous.

"While the Department of Homeland Security does not confirm law enforcement operations, I can report that Secretary Noem has informed me that ICE has ended its enhanced activities in the State of Maine" January 29, 2026, According to U.S. Senator Susan Collins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ceased its enhanced operations in the State of Maine. The announcement comes after direct communicatio between Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Senator C

By Tammy Wells January 28, 2026, Come spring, Advanced Life Support and Pediatric Life Support training programs will be in place at York County Regional Training Center. Advanced EMT classes and labs are ongoing now at the new facility. Firefighting classes are happening. Law enforcement classes are scheduled. A citizens academy that gives residents a look at policing meets there weekly. The decades-long dream of a centralized location for all manner of first responder tra

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

January 21, 2026, We have recieved video confirmation of ICE personnel at a residence located on Hubert Street. Multiple vehicles and officers were present.

"because if we don't come in, now your kids are going with us". January 21, 2026, We have recieved a video that shows that while conducting offical ICE activity in Biddeford, an ICE officer stated to an individual, "because if we don't come in, now your kids are going with us". This is the first instance any behavior such as this has been reported to our team.

January 16, 2026, Below is the statement we just received from Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain regarding reports of potential Federal Immigration Enforcement: "In recent days, reports of possible federal immigration enforcement activity in Maine have raised understandable anxiety, questions, and fear for some residents, families, and businesses in Biddeford. We recognize that uncertainty of this nature can be deeply unsettling, particularly when information is incomplete or e

📰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