News Notes

Officer Gary Cray, Sanford Police Department

Compiled by Carolyn Cadigan

Sanford native graduates from police training program: Last week, Officer Gary Cray of the Sanford Police Department graduated from the 45th Basic Law Enforcement Training Program at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Full-time police officers who attend this 18-week, live-in academy train on criminal law, de-escalation, emergency driving, firearms, OUI investigations and more. Cray, a Sanford native and Army veteran, will join the evening shift crew.

Help fight food insecurity for older adults: Volunteers are needed Tuesday and/or Thursday mornings to help pack Meals on Wheels bags for distribution to older adults in southern Maine. If you’re interested in helping, contact Volunteer Services at the Southern Maine Agency on Aging at 207-396-6595 or volunteer@smaaa.org.

Honoring Harland Eastman: A Celebration of Life for Harland H. Eastman will be held on June 1 at 10:00 am at the Sanford-Springvale Historical Museum, 505 Main St., Springvale. Those wishing to honor his memory are cordially invited.

Emergency responders contain hazmat situation on Main Street: On May 16, the Sanford Fire Department and the York County Emergency Management Agency responded to a report about a possible ammonia leak at Arctic Glacier, a manufacturer of ice at 1913 Main St., after an odor was detected. Since ammonia releases a visible vapor, a person inside the building was able to share a video of the leak with responders so fire crews in full hazmat suits could quickly identify the location, seal the leak and shut down the equipment. No injuries were reported.

Shaw Field vandalism may lead to restricted access: Despite heightened security measures, Shaw Field has recently experienced an increase in vandalism and misuse of the property and infrastructure. The facility is private property. Volunteers with the Sanford-Springvale Soccer Association (SSSA), a private non-profit organization, carry out the management and operation of the field. SSSA hopes to avoid restricting access to the facility; however, such thoughtless acts come at a real cost to the organization. Anyone who sees any suspicious activity or incidents at the field is asked to contact the Police Department.

Put your creative eye to good use: A logo for the Sanford Recovery Community Center is being developed and the organization would like your input. Go here to cast your vote for the best one.

Calling all 2-D artists: Do you have original art that you’d like to exhibit and sell? Goodall Library is holding an exhibit fundraiser and welcomes you to display your hangable art, such as paintings, prints, photographs, drawings, textiles, quilts and wall hangings. Each piece must be properly wired and ready to hang. Information labels will be provided. The library requests a donation of 20% from each piece sold. All sales will be directly between the artist and the buyer. Interested artists can drop off their art on June 5 from 2 pm to 6:30 pm at the library’s temporary site at the Center for Shopping. FMI, contact Evelyn Nitzberg at 707-889-0169 or evelynnitzbergart1@gmail.com.

Summer Commons staff members enjoy Kona Ice treats.

A n-ice big thank you: Last week, the staff at Summer Commons celebrated National Nursing Home Week with Kona Ice of York County. They were treated to Kona’s shaved ice treats in appreciation for all that they do every day for the facility’s residents.

YMCA expo fosters connections and community: The 5th annual Healthy Living Expo will be held June 12, 10 am to noon, at the Sanford-Springvale YMCA. The expo provides connections to resources within the community to help older adults. Admission is free and no registration is needed. FMI, contact Robin Bibber at 207-457-0800.

Info on Sanford resources at your fingertips: The Sanford Community Resource Guide is now available online. The guide provides information on where to find resources on food, shelter, financial assistance, transportation, health services, community activities and much more. To access the guide, go here.

How does your garden grow? The annual Southern Maine Garden Club Plant Sale will be held at the Springvale Library on June 1 from 9 am to noon (or until the plants sell out). The sale is a fundraiser for the club, which began more than 25 years ago. Its primary purpose is educational, but it involves social and community service aspects as well.

Saturday, the 13th, may be your lucky day: The Old Timers Shop at 917 Main St., Suite A, is holding a raffle with a “You, Me and the Sea” theme. Prizes, all of which are handcrafted items made by “old timers” in York County, include a painting of Nubble Light, a crocheted afghan, a sea-colored bracelet, a beach bag with beach toys, a coastal candle and much more. Tickets are priced $1 per ticket or $5 for six tickets. The drawing will be held on July 13.

Sheriff’s Office warns of another scam: According to the York County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO), several businesses and community members have received calls from someone claiming to be a Central Maine Power representative. In this scam, the caller tells the potential victim that their power will be shut off in 45 minutes due to non-payment of the bill. The caller then directs them to call 888-206-5307 to resolve the issue. This phone number, which connects to an automated phone system that identifies as CMP, eventually leads to someone who advises the person to go to Walmart and complete several Western Union transactions to pay the bill. The YCSO warns that CMP will never require a customer to pay a bill this way. Always locate the phone number or other contact information on your monthly statement.