News Notes

Sweetser’s President and CEO Jayne Van Bramer (far left) and Senior Director of Public Relations and Advancement Justin Chenette (third from left) present Sanford Elks members Marise Anagnost (second from left) and Denise Labbe with Sweetser Star awards.

Photo: Sweetser

Compiled by Carolyn Cadigan

Elks members receive Sweetser honor: Sweetser recently awarded Denise Labbe and Marise Anagnost from the Sanford ME Elks Lodge #1470 with Sweetser Stars. They have been raising money for Sweetser since 2019 and have been volunteering for even longer than that. In total, their efforts have helped provide over $51,000 through various fundraisers, including raffles, car washes, pallet parties, comedy nights and a music jam. They have also been voted into the Sweetser organization as corporators.

Deadline to apply for Habitat for Humanity homes is Nov. 12: Habitat for Humanity York County is accepting applications for two affordable homeownership opportunities in Sanford. Completed applications (by mail or drop-off) are due by Nov. 12 at 5 pm. FMI, including applicant income guidelines, other requirements, and a downloadable application, go here. Physical applications are available at the Kennebunk ReStore, 123 York St. in Kennebunk.

Banking text message scam sends fraudulent link: Partners Bank has posted that a text message scam involving the bank has been reported. These text messages falsely warn of charges and include a fraudulent link. Do not click on any links and delete these messages immediately. As a precaution, the bank has temporarily limited some online banking transactions. If you clicked on a link from one of these messages, call Partners Bank Customer Care at 207-324-2285 to secure your account. If calling outside of normal business hours, leave a voicemail.

Library seeks trustee candidates: Goodall Memorial Library is seeking people to join its Board of Trustees. If you believe the public library is vital to the health and wellbeing of the community, this may be a great opportunity to get involved. Interested candidates can read an overview of the board’s responsibilities, review the qualifications for the trustee position, and access the application here.

Recent railroad history talk available on YouTube: At an Oct. 27 event hosted by the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society, Jonathan Wells, a retired Pan Am Systems locomotive engineer and authority on the Worcester, Nashua and Portland division of the Boston & Maine Railroad, gave a talk, “Springvale’s Colorful Railroad Era.” Joining Wells was Lee Burnett, who spoke about efforts to return the stone railroad mileposts to their original locations on what is now Sanford’s rail trail. In case you missed it, you can view the hour-long presentation here.

New SFD team trained to handle specialized rescues: The Sanford Fire Department has established a new Technical Rescue Team, equipped to handle a wide range of specialized rescue operations, providing critical assistance in confined space, high-angle, low-angle, water, and ice water rescue scenarios. Most of the training and equipment was purchased through federal grants and resources. “The addition of this technical rescue team to our department is a significant milestone,” said Fire Chief Scott Susi. “We are committed to providing the highest level of service to our community, and this team will be a valuable asset in protecting the lives and safety of our residents.”

Ted’s offers free community lunch on Thanksgiving Day: Ted’s Fried Clams will be open for a free community Thanksgiving lunch on Nov. 28 from 11 am to 1 pm at 890 Main St. in the Main Street Marketplace. “When we moved into Sanford, we met so many amazing people who live alone or may not have the capabilities of having a Thanksgiving dinner. The staff all wanted to find a way to give back to our community,” explained Jason Cole, owner of Ted’s Fried Clams. The food will be donated by Laura’s Legacy of Love, a local non-profit organized in 2021 after the death of Cole’s wife, Laura, who helped run the family businesses. All the staff will be donating their time to help with the Thanksgiving ccmmunity lunch. FMI, call 207–850-1114 or email jcole@tedsfriedclamsmaine.com

Public safety retirements celebrated: Four members of Sanford’s public safety team have recently retired. Sarah Howe, who served 20 years with the Sanford Police Department, held many roles, including patrol officer, detective, and court officer. Retiring from the Sanford Fire Department are Paul Dubois, lieutenant/paramedic, after 28 years of service; Samantha Cole, firefighter/paramedic, serving 21 years; and Dale Bourque, lieutenant/paramedic, after 23 years of service. Thank you for your service to the community.

Don’t let the parade pass you by: This year’s Holly Daze Parade will take place on Dec. 6, starting at 5:30 pm, with the parade lineup at 4:45 pm and the tree lighting scheduled for 6:15 pm. All applications and required paperwork must be submitted to the office by the deadline, Nov. 26, along with the $25 registration fee to enter the parade. Floats should refrain from using Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus since the jolly couple will be bringing up the rear of the parade. Other holiday figures as well as incorporating lights and music in the display are encouraged. Applications, available here, should be returned to the Sanford Parks and Recreation office in the Memorial Gym cafeteria (Door 6) by the deadline.

Tanya Butts (right), patient service representative at Nasson Health Care, is presented with the organization’s Employee of the Quarter award by Barbara Crider (left), interim chief operating officer.

Photo: Nasson Health Care

Nasson employee awarded for exemplary performance: Tanya Butts, patient service representative at Nasson Health Care, has been selected as the organization’s Employee of the Quarter for exceeding its Health Center Service Pledge. She not only went above and beyond in meeting the needs of the organization’s patients, but also exemplified what it means to be a team player on the staff.

The need is great, but supplies are low: It Takes a Village 207 needs to restock its supplies and is seeking donations off its Amazon list, which includes such items as cans of fruit, trash bags, pudding cups, cookie packs, socks, new sweatshirts, and much more. To help, check out the list here.

Grant boosts SFD’s lifesaving capabilities: The Sanford Fire Department (SFD) received a grant for $28,952 from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The grant will be used to purchase 55 Escape System Bail-Out Kits, which consist of heat-resistant webbing, an anchor hook, carabiners, and a descent control device, for all department members. “The new bailout kits will fulfill a critical need within our department and allow our first responders to quickly exit dangerous or compromised buildings, typically through a window, especially when usual escape routes like doors or stairways are blocked or unsafe,” said Brian Watkins, SFD assistant chief. The City Council voted to accept the grant at its Oct. 15 council meeting.

Sheriff’s Office scam alert: The York County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) has received reports that a caller, claiming to be Sgt. Dave Chauvette from the YCSO, has been contacting people about their missed court dates. Reports indicate that the scammer also claims to be other members of the Sheriff’s Office. The calls appear to come from 207-835-5662, which, when called, reaches a voice mail for someone claiming to be Sgt. Chauvette, and from 207-324-1113, an administrative line at the office. The YCSO reminds the public that a deputy would never call someone to notify them of a missed court date, and would never assess fines or ask for payment, either by gift card or money, over the phone. Contact the YCSO if you receive any calls from the office’s numbers.

New apartments transform the Nasson College property: The campus of Nasson College, which closed in 1983, has undergone a transformation in recent years. The latest changes include efforts to help address the housing shortage in the area. In 2022, Maine-based GreenMars, a real estate development and property management company, broke ground on a new multi-family property, Nasson in the Pines, utilizing three former dorms of the college. Upon completion, the properties will consist of a total of 84 apartments — 55 one-bedroom units and 29 two-bedroom units which are currently being offered at market rates ranging from $1,400 to $2,050 per month, according to the Nasson in the Pines website. One of the buildings, Hanscom Hall, is finished and is fully occupied by tenants. Pryor Hussey Hall is slated for completion in December, and Fobes Hall has a January 2025 completion date. The apartment complex sits on approximately 27 acres. GreenMars plans to develop additional housing in the future.

Walk & Bike Brightly campaign sheds light on safer travel at night: Do you represent a school, police department, or other non-profit community service group? Do you frequently encounter Mainers who travel after dark or lack funds to purchase safety equipment? If you answered “yes” to both questions, then the Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s (BCM) “Walk & Bike Brightly” campaign is for you. The BCM is currently distributing free sets of front and rear bike lights, as well as reflective bands, to Mainers who need them the most. The primary goal of this effort is to make traveling at night safer for both pedestrians and cyclists, but for the latter group, being bright at night is also the law. FMI, visit here.

Main Street Memo – Edition 39 is now available: Be in the know about the latest news and announcements in Sanford. Access the latest publication here.