Workers dig in during last year’s Volunteer Day at the Sanford Community Forest.
Photo: Lee Burnett
Compiled by Gail Burnett
Plant a tree, check out a trail: It’s time to sign up for Three Rivers Land Trust’s next Volunteer Day, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 3, from 10 am to 1 pm at the Sanford Community Forest on upper Oak Street in Springvale. The event will include work along the new, accessible trail and will involve planting of native shrubs and trees. A signup form and more information are available here.
Mobile home park rent hikes on hold: At its Sept. 16 meeting, the City Council approved an emergency ordinance for a temporary moratorium on mobile home park lot rent increases. The issue was discussed in depth at the previous meeting (see that story). Lot rents may not be increased until the moratorium expires on Dec. 17, 2025. City Manager Steve Buck called the issue “a welfare crisis” and said the moratorium will give city officials time to review the proposed rent stabilization ordinance currently being drafted by the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. If the state’s ordinance is not ready in time, the Council may extend the moratorium or adopt a permanent ordinance of its own.
Fire station bond: The City Council has approved partial bond financing through the Maine Municipal Bond Bank for the new headquarters fire station in the amount of $13,550,000, which includes engineering, design, transaction costs and related expenses. Bonding for construction of the station is being split into two parts, and this is the first part. A second bond for the same amount will come before the council in the spring.
Parks and facilities policy: The city’s Parks and Recreation Department has a newly updated policy for usage fees for all properties, which include Veterans Memorial Gym, Gowen Park, Gateway Park, Central Park, Holdsworth Park (Springvale Rec), Goodall Park and more. Contact the office at (207) 324-9130 Monday through Thursday to get a copy of the policy and reserve a time and place for your family gathering, organizational outing or team sporting event.
Touch a tractor, and more: Children (or children at heart) will have a chance to get their hands on tractors and other farm vehicles as well as the Police Department’s special response vehicle at an event Thursday, Sept. 25, from 4-6 pm at McDougal Orchards. Refreshments will be available from the Gringo’s food truck, and of course there will be apples and other produce.
Fans of old barns, take note: The Sanford Springvale Historical Society will host a talk Sunday, Sept. 28, at 3 pm on historic barns of northern New England. Featured speaker will be Arron Sturgis, a timber frame specialist and president of Preservation Timber Framing, a company dedicated to restoring historic New England barns. The talk is free, but registration is encouraged to help the staff prepare for the number of attendees. To register or for more information, call 490-1028 or email info@sanfordhistory.org.
Look what’s on tap: Sanford on Tap, a popular event that took a break last year, will return this fall. The Sanford Springvale Rotary Club will host the event on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 4 to 7 pm at the Memorial Gym. At least 10 breweries and cider makers are expected to offer tastes of their goods and to compete for Best Brew and Best Brewery. Tickets will go on sale in early October and are expected to sell fast. All proceeds for the event support Rotary’s service projects and community initiatives. More information is available at sanfordontap.com.
More time to practice those moves: The second annual Lip Sync Showdown, originally scheduled for this month, has been postponed until Saturday, Jan. 3, at the Sanford Performing Arts Center. The event, in which teams battle it out to perform three-minute routines to popular songs, is a fundraiser for the Sanford Backpack Program. Tickets are available here.
Calling future Scouts: Girl Scouts of Maine is inviting girls in grades K-5 and their families to learn more about the organization at a special event Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 5:30-6:30 pm at Margaret Chase Smith School. The night will include crafts, team-building games and a chance to ask questions about leading or joining a Girl Scout troop. A signup form is here.
Save the date, honey: Springvale resident beekeeping expert and cartoonist Rob Hull will present a workshop on bees, beekeeping and cartooning on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 3:30 at Springvale Public Library. The event is designed for children in grades 3 to 6 who want to learn more or to try their hands at cartooning. Due to space constraints, pre-registration is required. Visit the library’s website at springvalelibrary.org.
Getting in the holiday mood a little early: Crafters, bakers and others with something to share at Christmastime are invited to sign up now for the seventh annual Spree of Trees, a four-day event starting Dec. 4 at Memorial Gym. It’s a fundraiser for the Sanford Alumni Association, which supports a variety of activities and programs to help the community. For more information, text or call Theresa Salls at 207 651-4969. To reserve a space, fill out this form.
A walk in the park: The last Art Walk of the season is being planned now for Friday, Oct. 10, from 4 pm to dusk. All artists and crafters are welcome to show and sell their wares at Central Park, across from Sanford City Hall. Entry is free, as is participation by artists. Check out the Sanford Art Walk Facebook page for more information.
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