Fresh Air Kids at the Springvale Rec Area, Photo: Sanford News, August 9, 2001
By Lawrence Furbish
The state attorney general issued a written opinion that Vishay Sprague must pay workers employed more than three years a week of severance pay. In April, Vishay had announced the Sanford workforce was being laid off and the plant closed, leaving 800 people jobless. Employees said they had been training Israelis to do their jobs. These jobs might be going to Vishay’s Dimona plant in Israel – the company would not confirm that—but they were definitely going out of state. The company had applied for and received certification under a federal law that ensured workers laid off due to overseas competition receive compensation.
Sanford Postmaster Robert Bissonette and Police Chief John Granfield issued a joint statement informing residents that the one-year transition period for changing old addresses to the new 911 addresses expired on Aug. 1. Many town locations had new addresses assigned to them under the 911 Emergency Services program that tied a telephone number to a physical location. Many Sanford residents had been hanging onto and using their old addresses. This adversely affected police, fire, and emergency services.
The annual Fresh Air Fund’s family picnic was held at the Springvale Recreation Area, a far cry from the muggy streets of Manhattan, the Bronx, and other New York City boroughs where the kids were from. According to a host mom, the biggest problem facing the kids wasn’t racial differences, cultural shock, or homesickness. It was bugs. There aren’t any mosquitoes in New York City. The kids got bit and didn’t like it.
At the Aug. 7 Board of Selectmen’s meeting, the Sanford Historical Committee asked the town to purchase the Creteau mansion on Main Street. Committee chairman Harland Eastman asked for a warrant to be added to the fall town meeting for the mansion to be purchased as the new home of the Historical Committee. Since it was “old, roomy, dignified and has a lot of class,” the committee felt it would be a perfect home for the town’s historical treasures. It had been in the Creteau family since 1964 and had been the site of Bob Creteau’s photography studio. Previously, it had been the Trafton Tourist Home. It was listed for $299,900. The request was presented by Eastman, read into the record by town administrator Jack Webb, but not discussed or acted on.
The News described the Sanford Summer Slam, an arm-wrestling tournament held at the Mousam River Steakhouse, as “a gripping experience.” Arm wrestlers from all over New England and New York descended on Sanford, ready to do battle. Competitors, both male and female, were rated in different classes depending on their weight. Marc Gaetar from Saugus, MA, took first place in the Men’s Right Hand Open Class. This wasn’t a big surprise as he was a world champion arm wrestler. He said it was his luck to be on vacation at his camp, which was in Sanford.
Taco Bell was offering a grilled steak taco but did not reveal its price. But you could get a Mexican pizza for 99 cents if you purchased a medium sized drink.
Chunky’s Cinema was showing “Princess Diaries,” “Planet of the Apes,” and “Jurassic Park 3.”
Shaw’s Ridge Ice Cream was promoting its new Ribs Bar-B-Q, applewood smoked and fall-off -the-bone tender. Open Saturday and Sunday from 4 PM “until gone.” Customers were advised to call ahead “cause sometimes we’ve gone fishing.”
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.
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