News Notes

Jason Beaulieu of Beaulieu Logging and Steve French of Landry Construction, at the site of the future York County First Responder Training Center and separate York County Recovery Center in Alfred.

Photo: Tammy Wells

Compiled by Carolyn Cadigan

Site prep continues for recovery center, training center: Land clearing has begun for constructing the $24 million York County First Responder Training Center and separate York County Recovery Center in Alfred. Clearing should be completed in early November.

Dance to benefit Thanksgiving Basket Program: York County Shelter Programs (YCSP) is holding its annual Harvest Dance on Nov. 8 from 6 pm to 10 pm in order to collect food and raise funds for its Food Pantry’s Thanksgiving Basket Program. Every year the pantry distributes hundreds of Thanksgiving meals to local residents in need. Tickets for the dance, to be heldat the Sanford Elks Lodge at 13 Elm St., are $10 each and may be purchased at the door or in advance by calling YCSP’s Stacy Irving at 207–651-5538 or 207–550-2075 or Scott Davis at 207–502-0520. Bring a non-perishable food item to be eligible for drawings, door prizes, a raffle and 50/50 drawings. There is a cash bar. For those who cannot attend but would like to donate nonperishable Thanksgiving meal food items, a turkey, or money to the Thanksgiving Basket Program, contact Scott Davis at 207-502-0520 or scottd@ycspi.org.

Parking ban: The Department of Public Works has issued a parking ban for Goodwin’s Bridge Road on Oct. 25, 28 and 29 from 6 am to 7 pm.

Is there anything you haven’t done? Travel+Discover Maine recently published an online guide, “28 Best Things to Do in Sanford, Maine This Year.” The guide, which calls Sanford the city with a small-town feel, provides a brief history of Sanford and highlights several indoor and outdoor activities, restaurants and lodging options. Read the guide here. And should you want to venture out of the city, there are guides that cover many of the surrounding communities as well.

Helping needy families stay warm this winter: This year, the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is again being offered to help keep people safe and warm during Maine’s long, cold winter season. A new online application process is available to simplify and speed up processing times for Mainers who need help this winter. The HEAP helps qualifying households by paying a portion of their home energy costs, primarily for heating. Mainers can check their eligibility for HEAP and start the application process here.

Helping to clean up the South Sanford roundabout are (left to right) Bob Myott, president of the Sanford/Springvale Rotary Club, Keith Patterson, Stan Hultin, Mark Yerkes, Amy Yerkes and Andy Orazio, CEO of Sanford YMCA.

Photo: Sanford/Springvale Rotary

Rotary’s roundabout revitalization realized: Anyone traveling around the junction of routes 109 and 4 in South Sanford may have noticed the cleanup and revitalization of the roundabout, Sanford/Springvale Rotary. The club organized 11 work days going back to April for a total of 37 volunteer hours. The roundabout landscape project involved trash and weed removal as well as a native plant landscape designed and installed by Salmon Falls Nursery. The native plants include sweetfern, lowbush blueberries and little bluestem — the three most prevalent plants — as well as plantings of highbush blueberries, ninebark and pine trees. The installation of hardy native plants helps to keep weeds at bay and provide food for birds, bees and other beneficial insects.

Have you voted yet? Amid concerns about the U.S. Postal Service’s ability to keep up with an influx of election-related mail, Maine’s Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is urging absentee voters across the state to use drop boxes or return their ballot to their municipal clerk in person. This will lighten the load on the Postal Service and give absentee voters greater certainty that their ballot is received ahead of the Nov. 5 election. In-person absentee voting at City Hall’s 3rd floor conference room is also an option until Oct. 31. The hours are 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Thursday, and 8 am to 3 pm on Friday and Saturday. For those choosing to vote in person, the polling location for all Sanford/Springvale voters is Sanford High School at 100 Alumni Blvd. On Election Day, Nov. 5, poll hours will be 7 am to 8 pm. The city is providing free transportation to the polls through York County Community Action Corporation (YCCAC). YCCAC will pick you up, bring you to vote, and take you back home. All vehicles are wheelchair accessible. Call YCCAC at 207-459-9283 by noon on Nov. 1 to reserve your ride.

The season of giving is right around the corner: Toys for Tots Southern York County will begin its 17th year of giving together with community friends on Nov. 1. Its mission is to make Christmas brighter for children within its area of service covering 15 communities, including Sanford and Springvale. Each year, the organization seeks donations and volunteers to help with their mission. The online registration process for those requesting toys will be open Nov. 1 to Dec. 8. Like many programs, the organization cross references with other programs, so they ask that people register with only one toy-giving program. FMI on registering, donating and volunteering, email Springvale.me@ToysforTots.org.

Sanford insurance agency marks its 150th year with an acquisition: Batchelder Bros. Insurance Agency acquired Ronel J. Dubois Insurance Agency on Oct. 1. Batchelder Bros. Insurance, with its staff of 11 and a large portfolio of carrier appointments, will continue to provide uninterrupted service to former Ronel J. Dubois policyholders. A third-generation, family-owned business that has been operating in Sanford since 1874, Batchelder Bros. Insurance marks 150 years of business this year.