News Notes- updated

The Rev. Tim Higgins of St. George’s Episcopal Church

Photo: St. George’s Episcopal Church

Compiled by Carolyn Cadigan

Celebrating St. George’s new rector: St. George’s Episcopal Church in Sanford will hold a special celebration of new ministry for The Rev. Tim Higgins. The Right Reverend Thomas J. Brown, Tenth Bishop of Maine, will institute The Rev. Tim Higgins as rector of the church. The celebration will be held on Oct. 6 at 4 pm, followed by a reception in the parish hall. All in the community are welcome to join. The church is ability-friendly, with a ramp for those who need it closest to the parking lot. Staff members are working on offering closed captioning during the service. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be streamed on the church Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Library hosts SMAA info session for seniors and caregivers: Goodall Library will host SMAA 101, an informational program for seniors and caregivers presented by the Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA), on Oct. 9 at 10 am. Attendance is free. Get information on the agency’s programs, including nutrition services, fall prevention classes, Medicare counseling, money management, adult day programming, caregiver support, and more. SMAA is a focal point for resources, services, and information to empower older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers to live to their fullest potential.

Mainers thankful for Mainers: Every Thanksgiving, the Portland Press Herald recognizes 10 Mainers whose hard work and generosity have made life better for their fellow Mainers. These are people who haven’t previously made news headlines or received major awards. They are the unsung heroes who go above and beyond, simply because they care. Do you know someone who fits this description? Submit your nominations here for the 2024 Mainers To Be Thankful For. The story will be published the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Social distancing, other steps in place at Nasson to help combat illnesses: As respiratory illness rates increase this fall and winter, Nasson Health Care is requesting that patients adhere to the following steps to help combat the spread of viruses when at the health center: (1) When checking in, let the staff know if you are experiencing a fever, a new cough and congestion, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, or a sore throat; (2) If you are feeling sick, the health center staff strongly encourages you to either stay home or wear a mask when visiting the facility. Please maintain a healthy social distance of six feet and stay up to date with your vaccinations.

Hear from LOCAL candidates before you vote: The City of Sanford is hosting Local (Mayor, City Council, School Committee) Candidates Night on Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 6 pm at City Hall, 919 Main St., 3rd Floor, in Sanford. Candidates will answer questions posed by hosts Shawn Sullivan, of the York County Coast Star, and Tammy Bostwick Wells, a local news writer. The public is invited. The event will also be live streamed on WSSR-TV and recorded for later viewing. Questions can be directed to Deputy Mayor Maura Herlihy by email at maherlihy91@gmail.com or phone at 207-651-1542.

Hear from state candidates before you vote: The City of Sanford is hosting State Candidates Night on Wednesday Oct. 9 at 6 pm at City Hall, 919 Main St., 3rd Floor, in Sanford. Candidates for the State Senate and Legislature will answer questions posed by hosts Shawn Sullivan, of the York County Coast Star, and Tammy Bostwick Wells, a local news writer. The public is invited. The event will also be live streamed on WSSR-TV and recorded for later viewing. Questions can be directed to Deputy Mayor Maura Herlihy by email at maherlihy91@gmail.com or phone at 207-651-1542.

ITAV requests assistance with restocking their supplies: It Takes a Village 207 is out of several regularly used items, including cutlery packets, warm socks, travel deodorant, lotions, brushes, wipes and more. In addition, they need headlamps, new large hoodies, snacks, and canned goods. To help, order from their Amazon wish list here.

Photo: Creative Commons

Celebrating fall and charity on the ridge: The Harvest Festival on the Ridge will be held Oct. 19, 12 pm to 4 pm, at Sky Island Homestead, 273 Hanson Ridge Rd. in Springvale. In its second year, the “farmers and makers” festival will offer local foods, live music, artisan crafts, farm animals, and a pumpkin decorating contest. Be sure to bring reusable bags for your purchases. Each year, the festival also includes a fundraiser for two local charities — one for human needs and the other for animal needs. This year, attendees at the festival are asked to bring new or lightly used item donations to support Maine Needs, a grassroots organization helping Mainers in need to stay warm this winter. Check Sky Island Homestead’s Facebook page for specific items needed. On the animal front, proceeds from raffle tickets, to win a basket of items donated by the festival’s vendor artisans, will directly benefit No Bowl Empty 2, a pet food pantry.

SHS/SRTC closed Oct. 1 after threat found: Matt Nelson, Superintendent of Schools in Sanford, notified students, staff and families on Sept. 30 that a threat, dated Oct. 1, had been found in a bathroom at Sanford High School (SHS)/Sanford Regional Technical Center (SRTC). Although the administration, working with the Sanford Police Department, determined it was not a direct threat, Nelson cancelled school and all afterschool activities at SHS/SRTC on Oct. 1, out of an abundance of caution. School was back in session on Oct. 2 with increased police presence as an added safety precaution.

Free at-home tests to help limit COVID’s spread: Ordering free at-home COVID-19 tests resumed on Sept. 26, enabling households to place an order for four at-home tests, shipped free through the U.S. Postal Service. The new tests are able to detect infection from currently circulating variants. Order the free tests here. FMI about COVID-19 testing, go here.

https://special.usps.com/testkits

A career milestone is reached: MaineHealth Maine Medical Center recently celebrated Elaine Hartley, who started her career at Goodall Hospital in the Orthopedic office 35 years ago and currently works on the pre-services team as a per-certification representative. Congratulations on your 35 years of service, Elaine!

AFCU promotes Mawhinney to COO: Jamie Mawhinney has been promoted to chief operations officer at Atlantic Federal Credit Union, overseeing deposit operations, payments, and fraud and continuing responsibilities in current lending, loan servicing, and member solutions. A 12-year veteran of the credit union, Mawhinney takes on a key leadership role in operational strategy to meet the evolving needs of the people in Southern Maine, according to the credit union president Scott Chretien. “I am thrilled to take on this new challenge and appreciate the trust that Scott and the entire Atlantic team have placed in me,” said Mawhinney. “I look forward to continuing to work with our talented team to drive innovation, enhance our member experience, and advance our mission of helping people do better.”

Say goodbye to your sensitive documents: Free Shred Week at Partners Bank ends on Oct. 5. Whether you’re a bank customer or not, bring your confidential and personal documents to any of the bank’s locations and drop them in the bin for free shredding. This service is provided by Secure Record Management Systems, a social enterprise of Waban Projects, Inc. The bank also publishes monthly security tips to keep your identity safe. For tips and tricks, go here.

YCCC student awarded a scholarship: The Sanford Springvale Chamber of Commerce presented Charlotte Masse with a $1,000 scholarship on Sept. 27. Masse is enrolled in the business program at York County Community College. Congratulations!