News Notes: November 12, 2023

Woodland management practices provide a healthy habitat for wildlife,
including the New England cottontail rabbit, which utilizes cover to hide from predators.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Northeast Region

By Carolyn Cadigan

Promoting wildlife habitat and woodland diversity: Maine Woodland Owners invites the public to “Managing Your Woods for Wildlife” with Joseph Roy, Private Lands Wildlife Biologist at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The event will be held at the Woltersdorf Woodlot in Sanford on Sunday, Nov. 19, from 10 am to 1 pm. Mr. Roy will present several practices that help promote diversity of flora and fauna on woodlots. There will be discussion about the value of standing dead trees and coarse woody debris as part of wildlife habitat and the importance of pollinators for maintaining forest diversity. Admission is free, and participants are encouraged to dress for the weather and bring lunch. FMI or to register, email Jenn Hicks at jenn@mainewoodlandowners.org or call 207-626-0005.

Donations needed during month-long Trafton Center food drive: The Trafton Center is collecting non-perishable food items through Nov. 30 to help stock the YMCA Community Little Pantry, which provides grab-and-go food items to local homeless and food insecure residents. Needed items are food goods with pop tops such as ravioli, soup or canned fruit. Also needed are canned meats such as tuna or chicken, peanut butter, oatmeal packets, mac and cheese, peanut butter crackers, granola and cereal bars. Drop off donations at the Trafton Center, 19 Elm St. in Sanford, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. FMI, call 207-457-0080 or go here.

First day of library construction project is in the books: The extensive project involving the renovation and expansion of the Louis B. Goodall Memorial Library kicked off Oct. 30. It’s been nearly 50 years since the library, which was originally built in 1937, has undergone any major expansion. In addition to renovating the current building, the new library, with a planned completion date of October 2024, will have three quiet study rooms, a young adult space, a new meeting room, an outdoor garden, a pick-up window and new technology. The estimated cost of the project is $3.8 million. The library is receiving $3 million from the federal government as part of the Omnibus bill that was signed earlier this year. In addition, the library received donations through a trust. However, due to rising costs, some items were cut from the budget, including stone benches and some landscaping in the reading garden as well as a water feature with seating in the library’s reference area. As a result, the library is still looking for additional donors to help fund the items that were cut. The library was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

Remembering a friend of the dog park: A gathering was held at the Sanford Dog Park, 148 William Oscar Emery Dr., on Nov. 4 to hang a memorial sign in honor of Thomas Garnsey, who died on Sept. 19. He was patriarch of the park, served as a committee member and was instrumental in maintaining the park. For photos, go here.

Free training on stigma related to substance abuse: On the fourth Thursday of each month from 6 pm to 7 pm, the Sanford Police Department (SPD) and Lacey Bailey, Sweetser OPTIONS Clinician, present a free community training on substance use disorders and stigma. All sessions include an optional Narcan training from 7 pm to 7:30 pm and free Narcan is provided. The first training is scheduled for Dec. 28 at the SPD, 935 Main St., Sanford. To register for this session, email Lacey at lmbailey@sweetser.org or lmbailey@sanfordmaine.org. FMI, go here.

Pet vax clinic: Two dates remain for the vaccination clinic at Pet Supplies Plus. Take your pet on Dec. 2 or Jan. 27 from 9:30 am to 11 am. It’s a walk-in clinic, so dogs must be on a leash and cats must be in a carrier. FMI, visit the store at 1364 Main St. in Sanford or call 207-292-4171.