News Notes: February 26, 2023

Five multifamily properties in Sanford/Springvale were sold last week as a bundle for $1.95 million. The properties are located at 11 Butler St., 52 School Street, 25 State St, 3 Maple St, and 5 Maple St. and include 22 units. The seller was Spruce Lane Investments, LLC, and the purchaser was White Bark Properties, which owns hundreds of rental apartments in southern Maine, including 48 separate properties in Sanford/Springvale.

The Sanford Police Dept. hosted its second annual chili contest this week. This year’s participants included entries from City Hall, Police Dept. Sanford Regional Dispatch, and Public Works Department. All participants and samplers were given ballots to grade the 11 entries and the totals were compiled. Here are the winners.

• 1st place – Tom Gilman, Public Works Dept.
• 2nd place – Det. Everett Allen, Sanford Police Dept.
• 3rd place – Amy Brooks, Sanford Police Dept.

The application period for a 3 bedroom home in Sanford from Habitat for Humanity is now open! Please visit www.habitatyorkcounty.org/homeownership to see the income qualifications for applying. To set up an appointment to apply for the home email: program@habitatyorkcounty.org. The application period is open through March 22, 2023.

Springvale Library will host Organic Gardening with Dr. Bud Johnston, a two-part series on March 15th and 22nd from 5:30 – 7:00 pm. Sign up here or call the Library at 207-324-4624.

• Week 1 – The ecology of the garden – Gardeners are the original ecologists.
• Week 2 – Managing the garden – Doing the right thing at the right time leads to success.

The weekly take-home craft for kids starts up again at Springvale Library on March 6.

Congratulations to SHS wrestlers James Blood and Canton Hill. Both qualified for the New England Championships next Friday and Saturday in Rhode Island. James Repeated as All State Champion and Canton was runner up!

Waypoint (formerly known as Waban) has scheduled its 52nd Annual Tele-Fest for May 20. It will be a combination online and in-person event. Mark your calendars for a fun day of live music, great food, children’s activities and more!

Read this interesting article about the recent food distribution by the Sanford Backpack Program with help from many other community groups and volunteers: https://www.sanford.org/o/sanford-middle-school/article/1010898.

MaineBiz is reporting that the State has received an additional $6.5 million from the federal government for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, commonly referred to as LIHEAP. $42.5 million was previously allocated to assist Mainers in heating their homes. If you are struggling to pay for heat, give York County Community Action a call to see if you qualify for assistance, at 207-324-5762, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Meet 160 lb Firefighter Snow. Over the month of February he got lost in simulated building collapses 30 times. Lucky for him, the Sanford Fire Department was there and prepared to rescue him each time. But seriously, each shift spent a day this month practicing skills needed to rescue firefighters in need. It was hard work that resulted in great experience and growth for your Fire Department. (They may need to get Snow a new right foot.)

The Center for Grieving Children, a non-profit organization that provides a free, safe space for Mainers to grieve together and grow in hope and resiliency through its peer support groups, is looking for volunteers in the Sanford area to participate in an upcoming virtual facilitator training! Facilitators are the heart of the Center’s services and become part of a loving and supportive community while they offer grief support to children, teens, adults and families across Maine, for as long as they need. The Center is looking for facilitators in Sanford to help one evening a week in their Bereavement program. Facilitators are asked to:

• make a commitment of one evening per week, either in Sanford, Portland, or virtually for at least a year.
• complete a 30+ hour virtual training. Volunteers in the Intercultural Program receive additional training.
• complete a background check to ensure the safety of families and volunteers.
• be at least 18 years old.

To learn more and get started, please reach out to Volunteer@cgcmaine.org. For more information about the Center, its services and volunteer opportunities, visit cgcmaine.org.