News Notes: July 15, 2023

Compiled by Gail Burnett

Cruising time: Main Street in Sanford will take on an “American Graffiti” look on July 28 when classic cars come out for the Cruising with Friends car show. Registration will start at 4 p.m. and cars will cruise from 5 to 8 p.m. The event, sponsored by Friends of Downtown Sanford, will feature food vendors and the Gin Tin mobile bar. Those who pay the $20 entry fee will receive a $5 food voucher. All ages and “all awesome vehicles” are welcome. For more information, contact Friends of Downtown Sanford at friendsofdowntownsanford@gmail.com.

No more Back Street: Back Street Sanford, a popular restaurant and bar on School Street, closed on July 5, surprising many customers. Owners announced their retirement and the restaurant’s closure one day before the doors shut. The business opened as Back Street Grill in 1998 and had been operated as Back Street Sanford since 2018, when it was purchased by businessman Paul Pelletier. Details on what to do with gift cards are forthcoming, according to the business’ Facebook page.

Right color, wrong bag: The manufacturer of Sanford’s pay-as-you-throw trash bags accidentally shipped some orange bags for a client in Minnesota to Sanford, where they were sold at Shaw’s supermarket recently. Customers can swap bags at the Public Works Department at 156 School St. from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday, or they can send the bags back to Waste Zero, the manufacturer, for replacements using information on the packaging. Casella Waste and the transfer station will both accept the errant bags, however.

Cooking matters: The Sanford Springvale YMCA is continuing Cooking Matters Families, a free six-week cooking and nutrition class. Children are welcome to attend with their parents to learn about good food choices and to practice making meals. Participants receive a collection of recipes and ingredients. Classes are held at the Y on Wednesdays, 3:30 to 5:30, through August 16. To sign up, contact Megan at mletendre@une.edu.

You’re a Good Man: Nasson Community Center and Little Theatre will present the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” July 21-30 at the theater in Springvale. The play features all the favorite characters from the Peanuts comic strip, including Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy and Snoopy. Shows will be at 7:30 p.m. with matinees on Sundays at 2:30. For tickets, click here.

New administrator: Angela Madigan, principal at Waterboro Elementary School since 2019, has been named the new principal at St. Thomas School on North Street in Sanford. Madigan will replace Ericka Sanborn, who has been serving as interim. “With a strong Catholic faith and many years of educational experience, I look forward to the opportunity to answer God’s calling as the leader of St. Thomas School,” Madigan said. St. Thomas offers faith-based education for students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It was opened in 1972.

The Wall Needs You: The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall is scheduled to be on display in Sanford for three days in September, hosted by Sanford Elks and veterans service organizations. Sponsorships and donations are needed now to help with expenses, according to Dawna Legere, chair of the local Wall that Heals Committee. You can contact the committee by emailing VietnamHealingWallSanfordME@gmail.com. Read our full story on the Wall That Heals here.

Business Notes

• The recently renovated building at the corner of Maine and Winter Sts. (previously home to 7-11) will soon become a T-Mobile store.
• The owners of Mee-D Thai plan to build a second restaurant, described as a noodle bar, on the site of the recently demolished building at the corner of Main and North Sts.
• The owners of 59 Thai Street Food, located in the former Jerry’s Diner/Welcome Home Diner building, have just received a sign permit.
• At its July 18 meeting, the Site Plan Review Committee will take a look at a proposal to turn the long-vacant former Bank of America building at the Center for Shopping into a Starbucks.