Category: City News

Immigrant Support Network Reaches Out to Sanford

Nadege Kimbaumbu gets help from a volunteer at Fluff-N-Puff laundromat. Photo: Lee Burnett By Lee Burnett, Submissions editor An immigrant mentoring program in Portland is reaching out to volunteers in Sanford to see if there is interest in starting a program here. The Welcoming the Stranger Program, developed by the Maine Association of New Americans (MANA), matches community volunteers with asylum-seeking families to ease their transition to a new life. MANA supports 60 active matches in the Portland area and…

Courthouse Could Be Repurposed for Housing

The former Maine District Court building at 447 Main Street, Springvale Photo: Lee Burnett By Lee Burnett, Submissions Editor The former Maine District Court building in Springvale could be converted into 20 or more apartments as a result of legislation, supported by the Mills administration, that is whisking its way through the legislature. The Sanford Housing Authority is conducting a feasibility study to determine renovation costs, code requirements, and funding streams, according to Executive Director Diane Small, who has personally…

Municipal Budget Update

Police Chief Craig Andersen (at podium) addresses the Council. By Zendelle Bouchard The City Council continues to work on the budget for fiscal year 2024/25. On March 26, 2024, they met again to discuss possible further cuts and adjustments to a budget which will likely result in the largest property tax increase in more than ten years. Sanford Police Department Chief Craig Andersen told the Council he currently has two vacant police officer positions and offered to use the salary…