To answer one of our questions, Alex MacPhail patiently scrolls through a series of data on his computer monitor. He seems naturally comfortable and at ease, sitting at his desk and eagerly talking about the “unlimited potential” of the Biddeford-Saco region. MacPhail, 57, is the new executive director of the […]
Recent News
NEWSLETTER: From concept to reality
Welcome to the new year! How are you doing with your resolutions? One of my primary resolutions for the new year included taking the Biddeford Gazette from a simple concept to a structured, non-profit organization. The Gazette was formally launched on January 14, 2025. Our first story was about a […]
Tough Guys Don’t Dance
This is the first installment of the five-part ‘Biddeford After Dark” series that was originally published in 2001 by the Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier By RANDY SEAVER, Editor [Oct. 2001] A heavy and ominous fog — the precursor of a cold and damp weekend — rolled westward over Biddeford early on Friday […]
Mayor proposes planning board shakeup
[This story has been updated to include commentary from Alexa Plotkin, chair of Biddeford’s planning board.] By RANDY SEAVER, Editor Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain won his campaign a few weeks ago by promising to prioritize transparency and accountability at City Hall. As part of that pledge, LaFountain has been seeking and […]
West Brook skating: an enduring legacy in Biddeford
By RANDY SEAVER, Editor The West Brook skating rink in Biddeford was first opened to the public roughly four weeks before Warren G. Harding was inaugurated as the 29th president of the United States in 1921. Although the outdoor rink has undergone some dramatic changes over the last century, the […]
Saco official blasts Biddeford officials
By RANDY SEAVER, Editor Kevin Roche — a former Saco city councilor and current member of the Saco School Board — has publicly criticized Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain and the Biddeford City Council for the way they are handling the review of a large pier being proposed by the University […]
OPINION: Bacon & Eggs
What’s it like to be unhoused and hungry on Christmas Day By TOM McPHEETERS, Contributing Writer “What I miss most is bacon and eggs,” he said. I see this gentleman every week at Seeds of Hope and have struck up a bit of a relationship. He agrees that breakfasts at […]
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Santa Claus gets real
By RANDY SEAVER Originally published in Saco Bay News; Dec. 24, 2023 He’s known by many names. Some call him Father Christmas; others call him St. Nicholas or Kris Kringle. But here in North America, he is best known as Santa Claus. Just two days before the Christmas holiday this […]
Stop the Grinch! Protect your real estate
By State Sen. HENRY INGWERSEN, Special to the Gazette This time of year, we’re all familiar with the Grinch who, seeking to ruin the holidays, sneaks around and tries to steal Christmas from the good people of Whoville. However, on December 3, I gaveled in the final meeting of a […]
NEWSLETTER: It’s A Wonderful Life
Here we are smack dab in the middle of the holiday season. The excitement and joy are palpable, but a lot of the news – at the national level – has been anything but joyous since our last newsletter. During this time of year, we are reminded that we are […]






