Category: City News

Council Curtails Needle Exchange Program

Photo: Police Scotland Ayreshire By Quinnly Raducha, UNE community news fellow The City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to return to the pre-covid rate of handing out one needle for every needle turned in by drug users in the community. The emergency ordinance will be in effect for 91 days (about 3 months) while the state responds to the city’s request for more help combatting needle waste. The change was opposed by representatives of public health groups who said the…

Lanigan Released on Bail, No Plea Entered

State Rep. Lucas Lanigan By Zendelle Bouchard State Rep. Lucas Lanigan has been released on bail following his arraignment on a charge of domestic violence aggravated assault, a Class B felony that carries a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment and a $20,000 fine. His next court date will be in March. Lanigan turned himself in to authorities on Monday, Oct. 28. At the arraignment hearing on Wednesday, District Court Judge John Lucy did not ask for a plea.…

A Lot of Digging Downtown

A worker hauls rebar for TPD Construction Co. housing on Main Street, and an excavator loads a dump truck at ReinCorp’s housing project on School Street. Photos: Lee Burnett Downtown Sanford is ringing with the sounds of heavy construction these days. ReinCorp recently broke ground on a 30-unit building at the corner of School and Bodwell streets, across from Central Park. Across the way, at a vacant lot between Sunset Towers and the former Verizon store, workers for TPD Construction…

Sanford Building Boom Still Not Enough

Photo: Government of Prince Edward Island By Lee Burnett, Submissions Editor Even as new homes are increasing faster than ever, city leaders are looking at ways to boost production. Two forums held last week addressed the housing shortage, particularly the housing that people of average means can afford. The City Council held a housing workshop Sept. 24 that highlighted the gravity and complexity of the crisis. The next evening, the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee heard similar presentations and also considered…