Category: City News

Some Find Housing After Warming Center Closure

The encampment on Heritage Crossing Photo: Lee Burnett By Lee Burnett, Submissions Editor The closing of the warming center at former Lafayette School on April 30, 2024, sent folks in four different directions, according to York County Shelter Programs. About half are getting beds indoors. Many people are going back to living in tents, such as at Heritage Crossing in the Mill Yard, according to YCSP's Executive Director Megan Gean Gendron. Others are choosing to move to the emergency shelter…

Water District Priming for Flush of Money

The Sanford Water District is exploring installation of an ion exchange water filtration technology, a more compact version of this treatment plant in Hudson Mass. Photo: Massachusetts Municipal Association Lee Burnett, Submissions Editor Sanford Water District had anticipated last week’s announcement of tougher federal drinking water standards and is already deeply involved in developing costly new filtration systems. “Ninety nine percent of it was expected. It wasn’t a surprise,” said Superintendent David Parent. The standards announced by the Environmental Protection…

Sanford School Department Helps CMP Workers During Storm Restoration

By Sam Bonsey, Sanford Schools Communications Coordinator The Sanford School Department and the York County Emergency Management Agency joined forces to help CMP workers during last week's storm. Central Maine Power (CMP) immediately took action in Sanford to help with restoration efforts, but with several hundred auxiliary crews arriving, they faced the challenge of finding suitable accommodations for the line workers. That's when York County Emergency Management Agency (YCEMA) and the School Department collaborated to provide a solution. On Friday,…

York County Budget

York County Commissioners Look at 9.6 % Hike for Municipalities From a press release Inflation and increases in the state government’s valuation of county municipalities has led to a proposed 7.38 percent increase in York County government’s budget and an estimated 9.6 percent increase in municipal assessments for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The proposed budget is $25.16 million, with $21.55 million to be raised through taxes to the 29 cities and towns, the latter up by about…

Desperate Aid Agency Tries to Stem Flow of Immigrants

At Quality Inn, a family that had been living in Sanford for the past week awaits a bus ride to a Portland shelter. Photo: submitted By Lee Burnett, Submissions Editor The anti-poverty agency that has worked non-stop since last May to find housing for immigrants in Sanford sent out an urgent plea on Tuesday in an attempt to stem the influx. “At this time, I do not have housing availability for any new families arriving unannounced in Sanford,” read the…