News Notes: November 5, 2023

Members of the Sanford Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol earned high honors in the Maine Wing Cadet Competition 2023.

Photo Credit: Civil Air Patrol

By Carolyn Cadigan

Flying high after state competition: The Sanford Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol competed with integrity and a commitment to excellence in the Maine Wing Cadet Competition 2023 held at the Maine National Guard Armory in Augusta. The team was awarded third place overall behind the Portland Composite Squadron (first place) and the Auburn-Lewiston Composite Squadron (second place) with only one point separating second and third place. The Sanford team also took first place in the uniform portion of the competition and second place in drill. A total of six teams from around the state competed. FMI and photos of the teams, go here.

Dressed up for fun: Trick or Treat at the Louis B. Goodall Memorial Library was a big success last week with both children and adults sporting creative and colorful costumes. Check out the photos of superheroes, dinosaurs, princesses and more here.

Springvale man sentenced for deadly 2021 motorcycle crash: Olaf Nordmann, 53, of Springvale, pleaded guilty last month to driving under the influence without a license and manslaughter in the 2021 death of his girlfriend, Marisa Standley. In a deal reached with prosecutors, Nordmann was sentenced to serve four years in prison, with credit for the more than two years he has already served. His judgment also includes six years of probation, a $2,100 fine and a 10-year ban on obtaining a driver’s license. According to an affidavit from York County sheriff’s deputy Mathieu Nadeau, Nordmann was driving his 2019 Harley Davidson north on Emery Mills Road in Shapleigh on May 9, 2021, when he veered onto a shoulder and crashed into a line of trees. Deputies responding to the scene found Standley, 27, dead at the scene from serious head trauma. Neither Nordmann, who was treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, nor Standley was wearing a helmet, according to police. Surveillance footage from a business near the crash site showed Nordmann was driving “at a high rate of speed,” according to the affidavit. Standley left a son, who is now 6years old.

Support your local library: The Springvale Public Library announced its Annual Appeal, which is their most crucial fundraiser of the year. Donations help keep the library operational — from buying books, offering adult events and running children’s programming to keeping the lights on and more. You may have received an envelope in the mail inviting you to contribute. If not, donation envelopes are available at the library’s front desk. As a reminder, if you don’t have a library card, all residents of Sanford and Springvale, including people who pay taxes there or staff any of its schools, are welcome to get a free card at the Springvale Public Library.

PFAS legal notices in the mail: The Sanford Water District (SWD) is mailing to its customers a legal notice about Sanford’s PFAS measurement exceeding the state drinking water standard. (See related story here.) When the water quality testing sample from the Cobb 2 well showed an elevated PFAS level in September, the well was taken offline that same day and remains offline. The SWD also posted a press release on both Facebook and the City of Sanford website as well as included it in the City’s “Main Street Memo.” The legal notice is required by the Maine Drinking Water Program and contains mandatory legal language. Go here to read the legal notice.

Connecting sick kids with technology: In 2017, Leslie Morissette, Founder and Executive Director of Grahamtastic Connection in Springvale, was named a Top 10 CNN Hero for her work helping sick kids stay connected to their everyday lives. The nonprofit organization provides free technology to children with cancer and other serious illnesses to support their education, as well as their social and emotional well-being. Morissette started the organization in 1998 in honor of her son, Graham, who lost his battle to cancer the year before at the age of 8. The program started out providing six qualified children with computers and internet access, enabling them to continue their education while being treated and to communicate with family members and friends. Today, in their 25th year, they have supported more than 2,600 children. Additionally, thousands of ill children have utilized their computers placed in shared areas of hospitals and clinics. FMI on the organization and to watch the CNN Hero video, go here.

Dec. 8 deadline to request a toy: Applications to request a holiday toy through Toys for Tots Southern York County Maine are now available. The deadline to submit your request is Dec. 8. To complete an application, go here, click on Request a Toy, then click the application link. The organization will respond with a pick-up date.