Derek and Rob Waterman, Sanford Water Ski Team Photo: Sanford News
By Lawrence Furbish
The Town was set to celebrate July 4th in a major way beginning on July 3rd with an art display at the Gowen Park gazebo followed by a magic show and a Sanford Community Band concert. Later that evening would come a water ski show and the annual fireworks display at Number One pond. On the 4th itself, the parade was to kick off at 10:00 am with the theme being “America’s Heritage” and the 25th anniversary of the calliope. The Grand Marshall was to be Norman Paul, former Sanford deputy police chief and State Representative.
A couple of school-related items took up significant room on the front page. First, rallies were being held in Central Park by parents and students supporting suspended schoolteacher Christopher Ridge. He had been suspended in March and charged with two class D misdemeanor assault offenses alleging inappropriate contact with a student. According to a letter-to-the-editor from a fellow teacher, Ridge had put his hand on the student’s shoulder giving positive feedback during a computer lesson. Ongoing dismissal hearings were continuing. (Ridge was eventually fired and he later filed a grievance. The Sanford News sued the School Board to obtain information regarding his hearings, and his criminal charges ended in a mistrial with no finding of guilt or innocence.)
The second story was about the Sanford High School (SHS) principal position. The assistant principal, Allan Young, had accepted the principal job at Kennebunk High School. But he soon found out that the then current SHS principal, Stephen Woodcock, had been offered the principal position in Arlington, Massachusetts. After a week of soul searching and over five hours of pleas from SHS faculty asking him to stay, he decided to turn down the Kennebunk post and stay at SHS. Being a Sanford native, Young said the SHS principal position was “a lifelong goal.” His family said they would support whatever his decision was but ended up being very pleased with the final outcome.
The owners of the Chancery Lane nightclub claimed they were being unjustly targeted by the town in having their liquor license pulled and were being unfairly punished twice for allowing nude dancing at the club. After undercover police witnessed a woman preforming a sex act during a strip show, the club had been given a 90-day provisional liquor license. The town selectmen later voted to deny the license permanently, citing excessive police service calls and traffic-related incidents near the club. Chancery Club owners unsuccessfully argued that the Mousam River Steak Club, formerly called “The Falls”, had more service calls than Chancery Lane. Apparently, Chancery Lane was the only location in Sanford that could legally have “adult” entertainment.
Alexandra Riding of Springvale was awarded the Grand Cross of Color at the Rainbow Girls Grand Assembly in Bangor. It is the highest honor a Rainbow Girl can receive and it is given in recognition of extraordinary service to Rainbow and the community. The International Order of the Rainbow is a service organization for girls between the ages of 11 and 20. Riding was a liturgical dancer at North Parish Church and a regular volunteer at Good Neighbor Day Care.
You could get a lube, oil, and oil filter for $14.95 at Central Tire. Chunky’s Cinema was playing “A. I. Artificial Intelligence,” “Shrek,” “Tomb Raider,” and “Scary Movie 2.”
Mousam River Steak House had a Tuesday Special of prime rib for $7.95. The Sanford News’ “Restaurant of the Week” was Rosa’s Deli, voted Sanford’s Best Sandwich Shop four years in a row.
Lawrence Furbish is president of the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society. The Historical Society Museum in Springvale has many resources regarding Sanford’s history. It is open Thursday and Saturday, 10 am-2 pm and Friday 10 am-4 pm.
The post Sanford History 25 Years Ago appeared first on Sanford Springvale News.
