Kiwanis Club of Sanford recently welcomed five new members (left to right): Heather Mansfield from Batchelder Brothers Insurance; Cari Quater, president of Sanford-Springvale Chamber of Commerce; Amanda Cyr from Partners Bank in Springvale; Kayla Day from Kennebunk Savings Bank; and (missing from photo) Kristina Billings from Waypoint.
Photo: Kiwanis Club of Sanford
Compiled by Carolyn Cadigan
Welcome to the club: On Wednesday, Jan. 14, the Kiwanis Club of Sanford inducted five new members, representing various businesses in Sanford and Springvale. The organization celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2023, having been established only eight years after Kiwanis International was organized in 1915. According to its website, the Sanford chapter has one of the largest clubs in the New England District. In addition to supporting several community-based projects over the years, including the Mousam Way Trail system, Salvation Army bell ringing, Sanford Mainers concession volunteering and many more, the organization has facilitated the Key Club program at Sanford High School for years, helping teens develop leadership skills through community service. To learn more about the Kiwanis Club and how to become a member, visit here.
Snow much to do: Family fun, both indoors and out, is planned for Family Winterfest 2026, to be held Saturday, Feb. 14. The event, put on by Sanford Parks and Recreation, includes outdoor activities at Gowen Park, 9 am – noon, including sledding, snowshoe and cross country ski races in the tennis courts, and a bonfire (all weather permitting). For those who prefer some indoor time, fun activities will be held at Memorial Gym, 10 am – 2 pm, including Toddle Time for pre-school children, inflatable play equipment and an art station. Free water, hot cocoa and popcorn will also be available at Memorial Gym. The Gotta Be Frank food truck will be onsite as well.
Keeping city roads and sidewalks safe: While recent weather dropped a heavy blanket of snow on the area, resulting in school and office closures, December delivered its own challenges for the Public Works staff. Sanford’s team of 13 Highway Division employees logged 1,837 hours responding to winter weather in December, working long hours and overnight to ensure the roads remained safe for travel, according to the December issue of Sanford Municipal Monthly. This work was also supported by additional staff members, including garage mechanics, Transfer Station operators, and Parks and Recreation staff, who are all involved with the city’s emergency response efforts. A lot goes on behind the scenes when a winter storm is in the forecast.
Cobb Stadium Input Workshop: Community members are invited to participate in a workshop focused on the future of Cobb Stadium. This hands-on session, to be held Thursday, Feb. 12, 5:30 – 7 pm at Memorial Gym, will provide participants an opportunity to learn about the project, share ideas, and offer feedback in a collaborative setting. The workshop, put on by the City of Sanford and ACETO Landscape Architecture, will include small-group discussions using maps and other materials. Participant feedback will help guide the planning process. The organizers request that those attending be on time and ready to break into small groups for discussion.
Habitat homebuyer selection begins in February: Later this year, Habitat for Humanity York County will begin construction on a new five-home subdivision on Island Avenue in Sanford — the organization’s biggest project yet. Acorn Engineering, filling the role of civil engineer, landscape architect, and permitting lead, indicates that each home will include two off-street parking spaces and a utility shed. Homebuyer selection will begin in February. Interested families can learn more about eligibility, program requirements, and how to prepare for the application process by visiting here.
City department facts and figures: The December issue of Sanford’s Municipal Monthly Newsletter is now available. Each month, various city departments provide information and stats on their activity, including budgeting, tax collection, police and fire calls for service, open positions and more. Be in the know. Read the latest newsletter here.
Getting a charge out of that transaction: Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio, D-Sanford, has issued a reminder to Mainers that they shouldn’t have to pay surcharges on credit or debit cards during transactions. Mastraccio, a member of the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, says legislators are working to ensure that businesses no longer tack on these charges. “What was once a common practice for businesses to maximize profit by charging the consumer for using a credit or debit card has now not only become frowned upon, but it is actually illegal in Maine and has been since 2011,” she said. Anyone who thinks they’ve been overcharged can call the Maine Attorney General’s Office at 207-626-8849, or check out the Consumer Law Guide available at maine.gov.
Medicare enrollment is still open for some: Although the Open Enrollment deadline for Maine health insurance has passed, some Medicare beneficiaries still have a chance to make changes to their Medicare for 2026. Those whose Medicare Advantage Plan or Prescription Drug Plan was discontinued at the end of 2025 have until Feb. 28 to choose a new plan. Those on a Medicare Advantage Plan can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan or switch to Original Medicare one time until March 31. Low-income beneficiaries who have the Medicare Savings Program (QI or QMB) and/or Extra Help can switch to Original Medicare or change to a different Prescription Drug Plan any time since enrollment is open year-round for this category. Southern Maine Agency on Aging offers free, confidential and unbiased Medicare counseling to help beneficiaries navigate what can be a confusing and complicated process. To learn more, or to make an appointment with a counselor, call 207-396-6524.
With a grin from ear to ear, Amaya Perrone holds her 2nd place trophy and medal at the State level competition of the Elks Hoop Shoot, next to Corey DeWitt, president of the Maine Elks Association.
Photo: Sanford Elks Lodge #1470
Southern Mainer aims high, places at statewide hoop competition: Amaya Perrone won 2nd place in the Girls (age 8 – 9) division of the Elks State Hoop Shoot competition held in Bath on Sunday, Jan. 25. Perrone’s path to the state final began on Nov. 23, 2025, when she won the Lodge free throw contest, put on by Sanford Elks Lodge #1470, followed by a victory at the district competition in mid-January, which qualified her to compete at the State final.
Red Cross initiative helps reduce fatalities from a home fire: The Sanford-Springvale Rotary Club hosted Steve Thomas, executive director of the Southern Maine Chapter of the American Red Cross, on Jan. 22. Thomas discussed the lifesaving work the Red Cross is doing in the community — from disaster relief to fire safety. One such effort is the organization’s Sound the Alarm campaign, whereby the Red Cross installs free smoke alarms in the community. A working smoke alarm can cut the risk of death from a home fire by half. To schedule a free installation, visit Red Cross or call 800-464-6692 and select option 4.
The Red Cross is also holding a Community Blood Drive on Monday, Feb. 2, 10 am – 3 pm in the theater at the Nasson Community Center, 457 Main St. in Springvale. As a special incentive, the Red Cross is offering each donor a $20 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice when they give blood through Feb. 28. To schedule an appointment, go here and enter “Springvale” in the Find a Blood Drive box.
Smoke Alarm – https://www.redcross.org/local/me-nh-vt/about-us/our-work/home-fire-campaign.html
Blood Drive – https://www.redcrossblood.org/
Community support helps those in need before the storm: On Saturday, Jan. 24, It Takes a Village 207 (ITAV) partnered with St. George Episcopal Church to hold a pop-up outreach event for community members in need. With help from more than 25 community donors who provided food, supplies and winter gear, they served an estimated 35 people from noon to 3 pm, providing hot meals, fresh coffee and cocoa, and a warm place to spend some time on a very cold day. They were also able to distribute community care kits that included hand warmers, body and foot warmers, mylar emergency blankets, hats, gloves, socks, and more. In addition, ITAV and the church staff were able to secure hotel rooms for several people so they had shelter during the storm, according to ITAV.
AI workshop shows how small changes can drive big results: Artificial Intelligence is already part of everyday life. The technology is changing quickly, and the use cases for business owners are becoming incredibly practical. To help small business owners understand its potential, the Sanford-Springvale Chamber of Commerce is hosting a free online workshop, “AI for Business Owners: Tools to Improve Search, Content, and Visibility,” on Thursday, Feb. 5, 11 am – noon via Zoom. Suzi Guzman from SCORE will discuss how non-technical business owners can use simple, mostly free AI tools to improve search visibility, strengthen their websites, enhance their Google Business Profiles, and create content that helps customers find them online. FMI on the workshop, and to register, go here.
Be in the know with emergency alerts: Following this past weekend’s winter storm, York County Emergency Management Agency is reminding county residents via social media to sign up for RAVE alerts to receive real-time notifications about storms, road conditions and more. To sign up, text YorkCountyAlerts to 226787 and complete your profile. Email ema@yorkcountymaine.gov or call 207-324-1578 with questions.
A welcoming smile is all it takes: Southern Maine Agency on Aging is seeking Welcome Ambassadors, the friendly faces who greet visitors to the agency. This front-facing role helps create a welcoming, inclusive and person-centered environment for older adults, caregivers, volunteers and community members. The agency’s Springvale location at 21 Bradeen St. has openings Monday – Friday, either 8 am – noon or noon – 4 pm. If interested, register here.
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