Represented at ribbon-cutting ceremony (left to right): Leroy Cheney of Flat Top Burgers; Kelley Goodwin of Lighthouse Credit Union; Caren Martineau of Batchelder Brothers Insurance; Karen Hebb, Ann Lapierre, Al Hebb, and chamber chair, Rebecca Lapierre of Town Square Realty Group; Flat Top Burgers owner, Shin Ha (with scissors); chamber president, Cari Quater; Mary Hastings of Sanford Regional Economic Growth Council; and Matt Brock of Springvale Hardware & Paint
Photo: Sanford-Springvale Chamber of Commerce
Compiled by Carolyn Cadigan
Where’s the beef? The Sanford-Springvale Chamber of Commerce recently participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome Flat Top Burgers, 1735 Main St. in Sanford, in the former home of Village Pizza, to the chamber and to the community. The menu consists of juicy single and double smash burgers, as well as a few sandwich and salad options. Fresh fries are offered as a side item.
Owner Shin Ha has many years of experience as an executive chef and was trained in classical Italian cuisine. Most recently he was a chef at Anchorage by the Sea for almost 15 years. He offers daily specials alongside the regular menu to add variety to his offerings. Ha is also available for limited catering opportunities. Flat Top Burgers is open Monday through Saturday, 11 am – 6 pm.
Get your steps in, with or without Fido: Grahamtastic Connection is holding their annual dog-friendly 5K on Sunday, Oct. 19. The 5K Run & Walk, which starts and ends at Nasson Community Center (Nasson Gym), 457 Main St. in Springvale, takes place partially on the road, but mostly on the well-groomed rail trail portion of the Mousam Way Trail, with a turnaround at Deering Pond. The Kids Fun Run starts at 9:30 am, and the 5K start time is 10 am, with awards and prizes handed out at 11:30 am. Patco Construction is providing a free BBQ following the run. Proceeds from the event help Grahamtastic Connection provide technology to seriously ill children to support their education as well as their social and emotional well-being. FMI, and to sign up, go here. Email leslie@grahamtastic.org or call 207-432-1228 with questions.
Shipyard economic impact: Sanford city officials have received the numbers from the latest economic impact study of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. City Manager Steve Buck noted that Sanford/Springvale residents employed at the shipyard once again have the highest payroll of any Maine or New Hampshire community, with $51.298 million to 573 employees. The total shipyard payroll is $1.615 billion, and the Maine share of that is $433.2 million to 4,585 employees. The shipyard and its associated defense contracts are of great importance to the city, he said.
Partners in public safety: The Sanford Police Department recently spotlighted its partnership with Sanford Fire/EMS on social media. Every day, the two departments respond side-by-side to a wide range of emergencies, including traffic crashes where police manage the scene and Fire/EMS provides life-saving care; overdose calls, where timely coordination can make the difference between life and death; welfare checks, where safety and medical needs often go hand-in-hand; and fire scenes, where Sanford police assist with traffic, evacuation, and security, while working within the Incident Command System alongside Fire/EMS leadership.
The partnership between the two departments also extends to joint training and preparedness. Together, they train for mass casualty events to be ready to respond to large-scale emergencies as one team. They also prepare for Rescue Task Force deployments, integrating police protection and Fire/EMS medical response in high-risk situations. The teamwork goes beyond sharing resources to providing a coordinated response to protect lives within the community.
MaineDOT funding enhances public transportation in southern Maine: York County Community Action Corporation (YCCAC) recently received a MaineDOT discretionary award to advance the organization’s public transportation services. YCCAC, which received $51,400 for real-time vehicle tracking technology, is among 10 agencies statewide that were awarded a total of $2 million by the MaineDOT to support transit projects. “This funding enables us to enhance the accessibility and visibility of our on-demand transit by publishing and integrating service data into widely used trip planning platforms,” said Tom Reinauer, YCCAC’s director of transportation. “This initiative directly supports YCCAC’s commitment to improving rider experience, expanding mobility choices, and strengthening regional coordination across York County and beyond.” FMI on YCCAC bus services, visit their Transportation page here.
Rotary Club speaker develops Maine’s next-gen medical workforce: Dr. Nirav Shah, the former principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spoke at the Rotary Club of Sanford-Springvale on Thursday, Oct. 9. Dr. Shah, who joined Colby College as a visiting professor this fall, spoke about the work he is doing at the college, working with students to prepare the next generation for medical industry careers that are needed in Maine. Dr. Shah’s work, focusing on public health, is laying the foundation to provide students with the practical skills they can apply immediately out of college as they join Maine’s workforce in high-demand positions.
Is it virtual or is it reality? Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG) students at Sanford Middle School bring a unique twist to Halloween season with “Haunted Woods,” a video game-inspired haunted attraction scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 23, 6 – 8 pm at Gowen Park. The event, which is open to the community, challenges visitors to imagine what would happen if their favorite video games became reality. Attendees will navigate through themed scenarios asking the question: “Would you survive?” Admission is $5 per person.
Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm facilitates the Maine Monitor’s Listening Tour discussion.
Photo: Connie Garber
What’s news, Sanford? A Maine Monitor listening session designed to find out what readers want from their local news outlets drew about 20 people to Goodall Library last Thursday evening. Most who attended the session, held in partnership with the Sanford Springvale News, represented local news outlets in Sanford and South Berwick or a group hoping to bring back local reporting to the Kennebunk area. Discussion focused on where and how people get their local news, the limitations of social media, news vs. opinion writing and the role of local news. The session was one of 16 the Monitor is holding around the state. Findings from the sessions will be compiled and shared later.
Voting news you can use: The City of Sanford’s next election on Tuesday, Nov. 4, will decide two City Councilor seats, two state referendum questions, two School Committee members, two Sewerage District trustees, and one Water District trustee. Those who are new to Maine or registering to vote for the first time must register to vote in person at the City Clerk’s office at 919 Main St. before Nov. 4. Online registration ended on Oct. 15. Those who are currently registered to vote in Sanford or Springvale but need to update their voter registration information can do so online or in person at the City Clerk’s office before Nov. 4.
Absentee voting is already underway at City Hall. To request a ballot in person, go to the third-floor conference room no later than Thursday, Oct. 30. Voters may fill out the ballot onsite or take the ballot home to fill out and return either by mail or by using the City Hall drop box located near the parking area. Absentee ballots may also be requested by mail or phone. Download an absentee ballot application from the State of Maine website, print the application, and either mail it to or drop it off at the Sanford City Clerk’s office. To request an absentee ballot by phone, call 207-324-9125. Ballots must be received no later than 8 pm on Election Day.
In-person voting on Nov. 4 will be held at Sanford High School, 100 Alumni Blvd., Door #41, from 7 am to 8 pm. Those needing to register to vote on that day must bring an ID (e.g., a valid Maine driver’s license or Maine State ID) and proof of residency in Sanford or Springvale. FMI, go here or contact the City Clerk’s office at 207-324-9125.
Now that’s a sweet ride: VFW Post 9935 will have a Halloween Trunk or Treat event on Friday, Oct. 31, 4 – 7 pm, in its lower parking lot at 1 Hutchinson St. in Sanford. Anyone interested in setting up and handing out candy is welcome.
Wear pj’s for this virtual story time: Sanford families are invited to join a Pajama Pop-up to be held via Zoom on Monday, Oct. 20, at 6 pm, put on by The Basics Sanford. The event is recommended for children ages 2 to 8 and their parents/guardians. Early educators will read a bedtime story and share helpful sleep tips and resources to support successful bedtime routines at home. Participants can bring their favorite stuffed animal to introduce to the group. To join in, register here.
O Spree of Trees, how lovely are your branches: The Sanford Alumni Association is inviting businesses, organizations and families to sponsor trees for the 7th annual Spree of Trees, to be held Dec. 4 – 7. The annual fundraiser helps support the association’s mission to foster unity and spirit among its alumni and to have a positive impact on Sanford High School, its students and the community. To sponsor a tree, fill out the participation form no later than Wednesday, Nov. 15. FMI, call or text Theresa Salls at 207-651-4969.
Input needed on Heart & Soul statements: Friends of Downtown is still collecting input to determine the priority of the community-developed Heart & Soul action items. This step helps to determine the specific focus of the work to be done. Go here to prioritize the action items in each of the nine categories and keep the project moving forward.
Volunteers of all ages can make a difference: Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA) is seeking volunteers to support older adults, adults with disabilities, and the people who care for them in a variety of ways. Whether it be delivering meals, teaching a class, providing caregiver respite, keeping in touch with an older Mainer, or helping someone maintain independence at home, volunteers make the agency’s work possible. FMI on volunteering, go here.
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