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Burglary nearly thwarted when resident awakens (July 31, 2008)

By Renee Worthing

Staff Writer

Sanford police spent several hours July 22 searching the woods between Shaw’s Ridge Road and Cottage Street following a reported home burglary on High Street.

Sanford Police Maj. Gordon Littlefield said police received a call at 2:17 p.m. about the burglary. He said a 61-year-old woman who works the night shift was awakened when her dog began to bark. When she heard other noises, she opened her bedroom door and found a man wearing a dark shirt and camouflage shorts coming out of her son’s bedroom, Littlefield said.

Littlefield said the woman yelled at the intruder, described as a white male in his late teens or early 20s, who fled the house.

He said the woman was not injured and there was no physical contact between the woman and the intruder who allegedly stole “more than $100 and less than $1,000” from the home.

An examination of the area around the home led police to believe the intruder escaped on an ATV.

Officers on ATVs and a dog from the Maine State Police scoured the woods along CMP’s power lines. While police did not locate the man, they did recover an abandoned ATV in the woods behind Deer Ridge Park on Cottage Street. Littlefield said it is unclear whether the ATV was stolen or if it belongs to the suspect, however, officials are following up on leads.

As of press time, the suspect has not been located.

Town Council reviews annual things to do list (July 31, 2008)

By Renee Worthing

Staff Writer

Brainstorming, large sheets of paper, an oversized marker and colored stickers were the tools used during Sanford Town Council’s annual goal setting workshop July 22.

Councilors began the session by reviewing goals outlined during last year’s workshop and determining which goals were met and which ones are still a work in progress.

Goals accomplished from last year included determining an appropriate location for a new police station and beginning the design process, establishing a charter advisory committee to determine if changes to the town charter were necessary and improving the appearance of Sanford and Springvale through design standards.

Town officials reviewed Sanford’s methods of handling trash and recyclables and a task force was created to examine the feasibility of automated roadside collection or pay-per-bag. Town Manager Mark Green said the task force should make a recommendation within the next two months.

Councilors kept many goals on the agenda as “ongoing” projects, including the development of the trails systems. The trail connecting Sanford High School to the YMCA was completed this year and additional trails are being created by AmeriCorps.

While little work was accomplished to complete other goals, councilors opted to leave them on the list. Green said the task to develop a strategy for improving the enforcement of drug laws in Sanford envisioned the hiring of additional police officers, but budget constraints prevented the plan from moving forward. However, councilors decided to leave the task on the list of “things to do.”

The group also decided to carry over a goal to meet with the Sanford School Committee on a regular basis.

Green said “some progress” was made in developing an ordinance to encourage good maintenance and management of residential properties. He said the code enforcement office gathered information from other towns and is conducting inspections of suspected unsafe housing.

Garnering suggestions from councilors for what they would like to accomplish this year, Green headed the meeting. As councilors identified possible goals, Executive Assistant to the town manager Sherry Lord wrote the ideas on large sheets of paper, which were tacked to a wall.

Each councilor, armed with colored stickers, placed a dot next to goals they thought were important. While some goals such as combining town and school department payrolls received several dots of approval, others received little support, such as a splash park and a bike borrowing program.

Goals that received dots of support included exploring alternative energies to become a “green” community, updating the town’s Web site to make it more user-friendly, exploring the possibility of a park and ride lot and working with the housing authority to encourage owner-occupied housing. Other goals that were supported included continued exploration of a stand alone four-year vocational school and a town council evaluation.

Other ideas included firming up the special amusement ordinance, creating an ordinance on video poker machines, establishing a town-wide stormwater management plan, finding ways to fund cultural activities, and hiring a lobbyist for Sanford.

Because the meeting was a workshop, councilors did not cast any votes. Next month the council will review a work plan based on the preferred suggestions.

Disturbing number of disturbances over weekend (July 31, 2008)

By Renee Worthing

Staff Writer

Sanford Police Maj. Gordon Littlefield said officers responded to 473 calls for service within a 48-hour period between July 25 and 26.

“It’s usually busy on Friday and Saturday,” he said. “But this was unusually busy.”

He said calls ranged from disturbances to traffic stops to an early morning assault July 27 that required six officers to respond.

Littlefield said officers were called the area of Roger’s Supa Dolla on Cottage Street at 1:40 a.m. for a report of a fight, but when officers arrived, the group of people denied engaging in a fight.

Police made the group of six people pour out their alcohol, Littlefield said. Shortly after police left, they heard someone yell, “Someone on Spruce Street has been stabbed.”

Littlefield said Jason S. Brackett, 22, of Cottage Street was charged with aggravated assault with a cutting instrument after he allegedly injured two men with a folding knife.

Littlefield said a 30-year-old man had cuts on his left arm and a 29-year-old man had a laceration over his left eye when the knife was allegedly thrown at them.

One witness said Brackett “just started stabbing” the victims, according to a report of the incident Littlefield said.

Both victims were transported to Goodall Hospital, Littlefield said.

Friday and Saturday, police also responded to numerous disturbances, including an intoxicated woman at MidTown Mall, a fight on Island Avenue, loud parties, thefts, motor vehicle complaints, vandalisms and indecent exposure.

He said tomatoes were thrown at a house, four juveniles allegedly smashed bottles on a roadway and another group smashed mailboxes near the Wells-Sanford town line.

Police also received a report of someone throwing a rock through a windshield and lost items were recovered.

Littlefield said police also took part in an ATV detail in which several riders were summonsed for driving unregistered ATVs. Some riders were cited for operating under the influence and operating on a public way, he said.

Biddeford seniors spend some time with Mother Nature (July 31, 2008)

By Renee Worthing

Staff Writer

Donning yellow lifejackets, residents of St. Andre Health Care Facility in Biddeford boarded a pontoon boat on Bauneg Beg Pond in Sanford for a tour of the pond. With the cool breeze blowing their hair and Waban’s Waterfront Director Patrick Winne at the helm of the pontoon boat, residents pointed to water lilies and waved to a kayaker paddling past. They laughed when they noticed the seat of a swing submerged in high water, rendering it impractical.

St. Andre resident Barbara Sheehan, with a wide-brimmed hat on her head, said she enjoyed the boat trip.

“This isn’t my first time on a boat, but this is fun,” Sheehan said.

St. Andre resident Barbara Meserve and her husband Stan sat together in the bow of the boat, pointing to white, pink and yellow water lilies along the shoreline where boats and floatplanes were moored.

Reny Remillard, breaking a mask of seriousness, smiled. When the breeze proved to be too cold for him, a certified nursing assistant draped a blanket around his shoulders. Remillard hunkered under the blanket, as he watched the shore slip by.

The residents were participating in last week’s third annual camping trip to Camp Waban.

While some residents chose to spend the night in a communal cabin, those not so adventurous returned to St. Andre for the night and arrived the next day to participate in games and activities regularly enjoyed by campers.

Residents played volleyball, fished, kayaked and rode in the pontoon boat.

St. Andre’s Recreation Director Fran Kelley said it began to rain one day when residents were out on the boat.

Residents who chose to spend the night enjoyed nightly bonfires and making s’mores.

“They took in stride,” she said. “They said, ‘This is great.’”

That day, the boat returned to shore and after warming up with hot cocoa and coffee, the residents watched a movie.

Walker, 81, said she enjoyed her first ever ride in a tandem kayak with Kelley.

“Fran is wonderful,” Walker said. “She paddled me all over the pond.”

Walker said she thought the body of water was so large, it should be classified as a lake and although she had the opportunity to wet a fishing line, she said she was too interested in the kayak to fish.

“The kayak was marvelous,” Walker said. “The water was beautiful.”

She said she wasn’t nervous about her first ride in a kayak.

“I put my trust in them and they took care of me,” Walker said.

Kelley agreed the camp experience helped build strong relationships between residents and staff.

“We respect them and they trust us,” she said.

While residents were not forced to participate in any activity, they were encouraged to join in the fun, according to their comfort level.

Walker said she didn’t spend the night at camp and didn’t intend to return the next day because she wanted to give a fellow resident the chance to attend.

“I was looking forward to sleeping in,” Walker said. “But when they gave the opportunity to come again, I thought, ‘Why not?’”

This year marked the third year of the camping trip. When the program began in 2006, 16 campers went to Camp Waban for a week.

The program was such a success, it was expanded to two weeks the following year in order to allow more campers to participate.

This year, a total of 37, attended camp.

She said more families visited their loved one at camp to share the experience.

“The residents remember this camping trip and they talk about it for a long time afterward,” Kelley said.

AmeriCorps volunteers hit the trail in Sanford (July 31, 2008)

By Renee Worthing

Staff Writer

When the most recent team of AmeriCorps volunteers finishes their project in Sanford, there will be a new handicap accessible trail behind the Sanford YMCA.

A group of 11 AmeriCorps volunteers began July 10 to create the trail, a project they hope to wrap up by Aug. 28 when they leave Sanford for another assignment.

Working on the trail July 22, some volunteers were hacking away at tree roots and slapping at mosquitoes, while others loaded a tractor bucket full of gravel and drove it down the fresh trail.

Team Leader Spencer Vetter, 20, of Vancouver, Wash. who was part of the AmeriCorps group that visited last year and cleaned up behind the Emery Street mills, is back again for this project.

The weather has not been kind to them --– -they lost power July 18 at their Lebanon house when severe storms hit the area.

“I’m pretty much used to the rain,” Vetter said.

Volunteer Sara Lynch, 25, of Port Huron, Mich., said the rain didn’t bother her much either, but the mosquitoes were annoying. Vetter said a couple of volunteers were stung when they accidentally disturbed a bee’s nest in the ground.

Lynch, a first year AmeriCorps volunteer, said she joined after seeing “all the problems in the world.”

“I saw the problems here in our country and I wanted to help,” she said.

She said the team’s previous assignment was assisting Habitat for Humanity in Louisiana.

Team member Ashley Dixon, 21, of Casa Grande, Ariz. said she has learned a lot since joining AmeriCorps, particularly since coming to Sanford.

“This is different work for me,” she said. “I am getting in touch with the natural side of myself. I appreciate trees more.”

She said she also appreciates the relief from the 100-degree temperatures in her home state.

Vetter said the trail project was “ideal” for him and enjoyed the challenge of leveling the path and moving it from its previous location to avoid erosion.

He said a member from the Maine Conservation Corps joined them the first couple days to help identify goals for the project. From then on, the work was left up to Vetter and his teammates.

“It’s tedious sometimes,” Vetter said. “We just keep hacking away.”

While 11 volunteers arrived in Sanford, eight are now remaining. One volunteer was sent to California to fight the wildfires and another was sent the Louisiana area. A third volunteer, David Charles, 23, left July 22 to be part of the Gulf Liaison Team where he will edit an AmeriCorps newsletter.

The AmeriCorps team is part of the National Civilian Community Corps, a full-time, team-based program for men and women age 18 to 24. They commit to 10 months of service.

According to the AmeriCorps Web site, “The mission of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps is to strengthen communities and develop leaders through direct, team-based national and community service. In partnership with nonprofit organizations, state and local agencies, and faith-based and other community organizations, members complete service projects throughout the region they are assigned.”

Sanford Grant Writer Lee Burnett, who is responsible for inviting the AmeriCorps to town, said the National Civilian Community Corps is the “cream of the crop.”

“It is the only branch that lives and works in a team,” Burnett said. “Each member has a role. One person is a team leader, another’s job is to keep up morale, another is in charge of media relations and one is responsible for finding service opportunities. It’s not on chief and a bunch of Indians. They all have an important role.”

He said the team must also perform other services in the community besides the one they are here for, such as cleaning up a park or restoring a streambed.

Burnett said a new component added to the AmeriCorps mission this year is inviting local youth to work alongside them. He said youths from Strategies for a Stronger Sanford and “Reconnecting Youth” will be working with AmeriCorps volunteers.

“Ideally, we would have a group of trained trail builders after summer,” Burnett said.

He said a video, documenting the trail work, is being produced that will be shown to other youths as a teaching tool for trail building.

Burnett said the work is coming along, but the group is still looking for a few more tractors to make the work go more quickly. Once the trail work is complete, volunteers hope to host an opening celebration and will conduct an outreach program to those in wheelchairs.

He also said the volunteers receive $4.50 per person, per day, for food, an amount that can be hard to stretch for three meals each day.

“They could use some home cooked meals,” Burnett said, adding they had access to a microwave, stove, refrigerator, oven and utensils.

Volunteers agreed – home cooked food would be welcome. They said they are not picky, but a few members would prefer food that is not too spicy.

“We got them to come back because last year was productive for them,” Burnett said. “They feel welcome and it has to be an enriching opportunity for them and us.”

Burnett said pre-cooked meals or oven-ready meals could be dropped off at the Sanford YMCA. He also said if anyone has a small tractor with a bucket volunteers could use, they should contact him at 608-4171.

Police, seniors collaborate with SALT (July 31, 2008)

By Renee Worthing

Staff Writer

Sanford police officers spent about an hour talking to local seniors about safeguarding their privacy during the first Seniors & Law Enforcement Together (S.A.L.T.) seminar July 22.

Sanford Police Maj. Craig Sanford and officer Sarah Roberts encouraged those in attendance to be vigilant when answering their telephones, opening their doors or reading their mail.

The goal of the seminar was to educate seniors about protecting their identity and empowering them against intimidation and aggressive sales practices, financial exploitation, and unsolicited mail.

Goodall Hospital Senior Advocate Michelle Matt said insurance agents cannot visit a home uninvited and solicitors must have a permit.

“Seniors are most at risk of financial exploitation,” she said.

Sanford advised the seniors to use common sense.

“The bank already has your date of birth and your account number,” Sanford said. “Don’t give that information out over the phone or in an email.”

Sanford Police Chief Thomas Connolly said many scams that target seniors employ harmful psychology.

“They know some seniors are alone,” he said. “They play off that.”

He also said Lifeline, a personal alarm system, is an excellent resource for seniors who feel they are in danger.

“If you have any problems, you just push that button,” he said. “Lifeline calls back and if there is no answer, they will send the police.”

Officials encouraged seniors to call the police any time they thought there was “something wrong.”

“Don’t be afraid, that’s what we’re here for,” Sanford said.

Seniors had an opportunity to ask officers questions ranging from concerns about skateboarders riding in the road to “Would I really get a ticket for making a right turn out of McDonalds parking lot onto Tebbetts Avenue?”

Shapleigh resident Charlotte Tibbetts said the seminar was interesting and she liked the question and answer session. She said she would like a segment on legal assistance for seniors in the future.

Matt said she was pleased with the seminar and hopes to host another, with a focus on legal assistance, in September.

According to a 2005 survey, seniors in the community indicated their biggest concern is falling victim to fraud or con artists.

In response to the survey, the S.A.L.T. council was organized in an effort to empower seniors.

The council, comprised of various officials in law enforcement, including Sanford Police Detective Paul Shaw, Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Rowe and other service providers, strives to reach out to seniors and address their concerns.

The S.A.L.T. council meets from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. every third Tuesday of the month at the Trafton Center on Elm Street in Sanford.

For more information, call Matt at 490-7606.

Preserving catches on as grocery prices rise (July 31, 2008)

By Emma Bouthillette

Staff Writer

Apple butter, peach jelly, raspberry jam and cranberry chutney are just a few of many recipes that can be used when preserving this season’s harvest. While canning may be a practice of generations past, Cumberland County Extension Educator Kathy Savoie said planting and preserving food is becoming more popular due to rising cost in the grocery aisles.

While Savoie didn’t have hard numbers to indicate an increase in canning practices, she said the demand for workshops has significantly increased.

“Demand and attendance is much higher this year than ever. We knew this spring more people were farming more because a lot of places sold out of seeds and seedlings that hadn’t in past years. More people are seeing it as a way to extend the availability of local foods,” Savoie said.

She also attributed increased seed sales and demand for workshops to a trend toward being more self-sufficient.

The workshops Savoie teaches include basic method instruction, identifying appropriate equipment and measuring the pH levels in foods to determine the proper method.

Water bath and pressure canning are two methods used to preserve surplus food from a harvest, said Piscataquis County Extension Educator Jane Conroy. Savoie said both methods require the use of a dome lid and screw band jar readily available in grocery stores.

“A pH level of 4.6 is the cap for acidic foods. Anything below 4.6 is considered acidic and is safe for using the water bath method,” Savoie said.

The water bath method is good for jams or jellies, Savoie said. It requires one to two inches of boiling water higher than the tops of the jars in order to heat the jars and seal them properly while cooling. A pressure bath is good for low acidic foods, such as vegetables, fish or meats, and uses steam reaching a temperature of 240 degrees to seal the jars.

Savoie said food borne illnesses are caused due to improper canning. If not sealed properly by pressure canning, low acid foods can develop the botulism toxin. According to the Center for Disease Control, classic symptoms of food borne botulism appear within 18 to 36 hours of eating contaminated food and include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. If diagnosed early, botulism can be treated with an antitoxin to stop patients from worsening, but complete recovery can take weeks.

The Center for Disease Control recommends people who preserve food should follow strict hygienic procedures to reduce possible contamination.

“[To ensure safety of equipment] folks do need to have their pressure gauges tested every year, as well as the canner. The extension offices offer testing, just call first,” Conroy said.

Conroy said freezing foods is another method to preserve excess fruits, vegetables or meat.

“Freezing is a marvelous and simple form of food preservation to extend the availability of local produce. There is also less risk associated with freezing and vitamin retention is higher,” Savoie said.

Savoie said most vegetables require blanching – submerging it into boiling water and then quickly submerging it into cold water. Meats and fruits do not require the same process.

Conroy said properly frozen foods can last as long as one year.

Canning and preserving food is a process Shaker Hill Community Kitchen in Saco Food Services Director Martha Huestis is familiar with. Huestis said she uses the water bath method to preserve high acid foods, making her own jellies, jams and fruit preserves.

“My mother canned. Bread and butter pickles, I have to do them. I do something for every season and if I miss, it doesn’t feel right. It is my way of connecting with the earth,” Huestis said.

The community kitchen rents space to those who would like to use an industrial kitchen for their personal needs or to start a food business. Currently the kitchen doesn’t have equipment available for canning, but does have the space available if someone expresses interest. Huestis said she would look into purchasing the appropriate equipment if there was enough interest.

“If people want to come and can, they should talk to us. This facility is new to the area. [Canning is] one aspect we’d like to do too. We’re into creative thinking and want to work with people,” Huestis said.

For more information on Shaker Hill Community Kitchen, contact Martha Huestis at 324-8811 or marthah@ycspi.org.

A “Preserving the Harvest” workshop is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 18 at the J. Richard Martin Community Center in Biddeford. Class size is limited to 12 people and cost is to be determined. To register, call 282-3883 by Sept. 16.

For more information on canning and preserving food or for other workshop listings, visit www.extension.umaine.edu or call Cumberland Extension Office at 780-4205 or York Extension Office at 324-0817.

Weekly interview: Brian Corcoran (July 31, 2008)

By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

Old Orchard Beach will always be home for Brian Corcoran.

Corcoran, who has found success in the sports marketing world, credits his years in Old Orchard Beach for where he is today.

“I couldn’t have done half of what I’ve done without my teachers, family and friends in Old Orchard Beach,” he said.

In August, Corcoran, 39, will leave his job as managing director of corporate marketing at NASCAR to become executive vice president of Fenway Sports Group in Boston.

“NASCAR is a tough place to leave. They’ve been good to me,” he said. “It’s been a great ride, so to speak.”

In 2003, Corcoran helped bring Nextel in as a top series sponsor for NASCAR, a deal he said is considered one of the largest in sport’s history. He was excited to be part of it and said the deal was largely a case of being in the right place at the right time.

In his new role at Fenway Sports Group, Corcoran will work with existing clients — including the Red Sox and Professional Golf Association tour — while establishing new partnerships for Roush Fenway Racing, a team competing in NASCAR races. His primary responsibilities will include cultivating corporate relationships and sponsorships for the Red Sox and Roush Fenway Racing.

“The best part for me is the ability to unite with an old passion of mine — Red Sox baseball — yet diversify my professional experiences,” he said. “I never thought I would leave NASCAR. I’ve developed a passion and affinity for motor sports. I hope Fenway Sports Group is a place where I can see myself winding down my career.”

Corcoran will relocate from New York City to Boston, a move he is pleased with because it brings him closer to home. He owns a condominium in Old Orchard Beach and visits frequently with his girlfriend, Melissa Paradis.

Corcoran and Paradis, who have been dating for nearly two years, grew up as friends and neighbors on Lucid Avenue.

Corocran called his relocation with Paradis a dream come true.

“She’s been a trooper the last year in New York,” he said.

Corcoran is the son of William Corcoran, a retired sergeant with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, and Judy Corcoran, who owned a beauty salon. His younger brother, Billy, is a teacher in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and a summer lifeguard in Old Orchard Beach.

“He’s the kid who really lives the good life,” Corcoran said.

Corcoran spoke fondly of his early years in town while sipping iced coffee at Beach Bagels on Old Orchard Street. His first job, at 15, was at Palace Playland. He still loves visiting the beach and stays in contact with a handful of childhood friends.

“Times have changed a lot,” he said. “It’s still good to come home and see family and friends.”

Corcoran graduated from Old Orchard Beach High School in 1987 and attended Eastern Kentucky University on a partial track scholarship. There, he earned an undergraduate degree in exercise physiology and a Master’s degree in sports administration.

Corcoran’s first job after graduating was at Eastern Kentucky University. He also worked in sponsor fulfillment at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, for Florida Special Olympics and CBS Sports in New England.

This year, Corcoran was named to the annual Sports Business Journal “Forty Under 40” list, recognizing him as one of the country’s top sports executives under age 40. Those on the list were selected by peers in the industry.

“It’s a true honor to be recognized by your peers,” Corcoran said. “For me, it was as much about the opportunity to be honored in front of my family and Melissa.”

His advice for new graduates is to not attempt to be a jack-of-all-trades.

“Really find your passion and give 110 percent to that passion,” he said. “It will reward you and the people in your life tremendously.”

Despite a busy career, Corcoran makes time for charity work. He serves as the chairman of the Make-A-Wish National Advisory Council.

“Make-A-Wish is unique in that you see the results first hand,” he said. “It’s a labor of love.”

Corcoran hopes to develop more Make-A-Wish events while working with Fenway Sports Group, possibly in the form of Make-A-Wish days at Fenway Park. He said Make-A-Wish is only positively affecting half of the families eligible for the program and he would like to see that number grow over the next few years.

“The unique moment of the wish allows the family to suspend that thing they are struggling with. It gives them hope there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

Corcoran has been in Old Orchard Beach this summer whenever he’s not on a racetrack.

“I feel like I’m truly home again. It still has that nice small-town feel to it. You truly feel like you have neighbors,” he said. “I hope New England is where I call home for the rest of my life.”

Reporter's Notebook: Two years, but who’s counting? (July 31, 2008)

The Sanford-Springvale Register turned two years old July 27. I don’t know where time went. Time seems to go by so quickly.

The very first story I wrote for the Register was a preview of Summah Daze 2006 and here it is, two years later and I’ll be covering Summah Daze for the third time. It seems like just last week I took the elevator to the top floor of Sanford Trust building to the Impastable Dream restaurant where I stood in the window and snapped a birds-eye view photo of the festival below.

Since last year when I recapped the Register’s first year, I covered the Acton Fair, the Maine Model Jet Rally at Sanford Regional Airport, the Pumpkin Drop at Number One Pond and interviewed our new police chief Tom Connolly and Teacher of the Year Martin McKeon. The now defunct Club Adrenaline in Lower MidTown Mall dominated the headlines some weeks while other headlines revolved around decisions made by the Sanford Town Council.

Following an interview with Sanford resident Ricky Arsenault, the community came together offering financial support to help him pay for a much needed surgery.

November brought stories of local elections and snow was a common topic throughout the winter. The death of Sanford resident Imelda LaRoche, who was without heat or hot water since the Patriots Day flooding the previous April, prompted town officials to initiate a special heating assistance fund called the “Imelda Fund.”

A major snowstorm last December was the first of many to come.

“A storm warning for all 16 Maine counties scrolled across the Web sites of local news stations on Dec. 16. More than 287 cancellations were spelled out in a continuous loop in the lower quarter of television screen,” one Register story read.

By January, Sanford experienced a shortage of road salt due to the seemingly constant snowfall–“Another winter storm cancelled Sanford and Acton schools, closed state offices and spurred parking bans for the 15^th time this season.” [Register, Feb. 20, 2008]

Sanford town councilors began exploring new ways to handle trash and recyclables. The talks continue today and it seems there are two camps – “pay-per-bag” and “automated curbside pickup.”

On March 20, while the 37^th Waban Telethon was in full swing, 10 local fire departments rushed to the scene of an industrial building fire on the Sanford Regional Airport grounds.

By April 24, 2008, one year since the devastating Patriots Day storm, nearly all the damage had been repaired.

Town Meeting members approved the town’s budget in May, including proposed funding for a new police station and Sanford’s $32.8 million school budget was approved, as well. Immediately following Town Meeting, Sanford School Superintendent Jack Turcotte delivered his resignation.

The Town Meeting-approved school budget was turned over to voters for the first time in a referendum June 5. To the relief of town officials, voters also accepted the proposed school budget.

Sanford High School celebrated the graduation of seniors June 6. One month later, Sanford commemorated heroes with the Fourth of July parade- – and here we are at the end of July again.

My personal column, Reporter’s Notebook, outlined my life, week-by-week.

Last August my son, Zack, came home for a week following his training at Fort Eustis, Virginia. After a very short visit, we put him on an airplane and he headed to Fort Hood, Texas. Within months, he was deployed to Iraq.

My daughter and I took a trip to Pennsylvania. Along the way, I learned the “right” way to drive in New Jersey after a woman on the New Jersey Turnpike screamed, “You’re too slow! Just go! Just drive!” when I was trying to politely merge into traffic.

I shared the death of my grandfather in December, my feelings about sportsmanship and my inability to remember which months have 30 days and which have 31. I told you about my love affair with Tom-Tom. Most recently I shared the 18 days my son was home from Iraq.

So much has happened this past year and all of it seems like it occurred just yesterday. As the Register heads into it’s third year, I look forward to what the future holds. -

– Renee Worthing

Police notes (July 31, 2008)

BREAKING LOOSE

A caller reported hearing people breaking things on River Street. Police said three minors were given criminal trespass warnings.

NO VAMPIRES ALLOWED

Sanford police stopped a car in Oakdale Cemetery and issued criminal trespass warnings to the driver and occupants for being in a cemetery after sunset.

KENTUCKY FRIED DRUNK

A KFC employee called police after a man drove through the drive-through drunk. Police said a 22-year-old Minerva Avenue man was arrested for operating under the influence.

MISSING CAR

A caller reported her car was stolen from in front of a River Street business. Police said the owner’s son’s girlfriend took the car without permission.

VIOLATION

A caller reported a woman yelling next door. When police arrived, they said an 18-year-old man was summonsed for violating his condition of release which stipulated he not possess or consume alcohol.

KICKING TIRES?

Police said a 26-year-old Hanson’s Ridge woman was cited for criminal mischief after she kicked and dented the door of a 2003 Subaru that did not belong to her.

Letter: Donate canoe and help out scouts (July 31, 2008)

Editor:

We are once again in need of the help of The Register’s readers to help us equip the scouts who are joining our discovery program. We have experienced a positive growth of 40 percent since we first asked you for help. We are in desperate need of 16-foot to 18-foot canoes for our troop. We are growing and so is the interest in our outdoor discovery program, which is why we are asking for help. Our goal is to provide opportunities for boys in the surrounding communities (Arundel, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Lyman, Sanford, Springvale and Wells) between the ages of 11 and 21 to experience the great outdoors. We are also in need of kayaks, paddles and life jackets. We are able to repair canoes and kayaks that are in need of some work. We are willing to provide tax credit statements for all donations of canoes and kayaks. Please contact me at 282-2851 or email ptasch@localnet.com. Thank you for your support!

Phil Taschereau

Scoutmaster

Letter: Springvale library appreciates the support (July 31, 2008)

Editor:

Springvale Public Library wishes to thank patrons and neighbors who helped make our recent pancake breakfast, book sale and yard sale a success. The summer fundraising event is not only a familiar July gathering but also an important source of budget support for the services and programs we offer.

Many thanks to all our volunteers, including the following area organizations: Friends of the Library, Sanford Rotary, Goodall Hospital, Bonanza, Hannaford, Shaw’s, Great Beginnings Catering, Nasson Community Center, Jagger Brothers, Irving, and Altrusa.

Sincerely,

Susan W. Riding

Fundraising Chair,

Springvale Public Library

Storms keep public safety officials busy (July 25, 2008)

Severe thunderstorms rolled through York County around 4:30 p.m. July 18. While Sanford and Springvale escaped major storm damage, Sanford Fire Captain Harold Smith said the fire department received calls from “all over the place.” He said the hardest hit areas were Chick Road, Philbrick Road and Bauneg Beg Road where power lines were down and trees fell across roads, cars and on homes.

He said there were unconfirmed reports of “straight line wind damage,” which he said was indicative of microbursts or localized damaging winds similar to tornado activity.

Smith said one building in town was struck by lightning, but did not result in a fire. He said the fire department responded to about 22 calls within two hours. He said Sanford Police Department assisted in responding to calls because the fire department was running out of resources and manpower.

Big Brothers fill real needs in county (July 25, 2008)

By Emma Bouthillette

Staff Writer

When Cameron Munroe couldn’t pump any more air into his bicycle tire, Guy Riendeau helped the boy reach the needed tire pressure. When Munroe stepped back in for the final pump, he leaned all his weight into the pump, but still couldn’t depress the handle against the pressure.

Riendeau, 61, of Kennebunk, brought his little brother Cameron, 8, of Kennebunk, to the Community Bicycle Center in Biddeford to tune up his bicycle. While Riendeau and Munroe aren’t really related, they are one of 70 Big Brothers Big Sisters of York County matches.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of York and Cumberland counties are still in need of “bigs” for “littles” who are waiting to be matched, said Big Brothers Big Sisters of York County Community Development Director Susan Braziel. She said the “bigs” are community-based mentors who are 18 years or older, demonstrate stability, responsibility and dependability, and can commit at least one year to the “little” they are paired with.

“We capture the needs and interest of a ‘little,’ and make pairings based on interest,” Braziel said.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Program Director Chris Woolworth said interested “bigs” fill out an interest questionnaire, application, provide three references from people who they have known for more than two years, undergo a national criminal background check, a state motor vehicle history check, an hour long interview with a Big Brothers Big Sisters staff member, home assessment and training. She said after receiving all that information, Big Brothers Big Sisters picks a “little” they think will make the most successful match with the “big.” Riendeau said it was a six-week process before he was matched with Munroe.

The “littles,” between 7 and 18 years old, are referred to Big Brothers Big Sisters through school or sometimes parents, Braziel said. She said the backgrounds of the “littles” are varied, but most come from single parent homes, and for boys, they are in need of an adult male figure in their life.

Braziel said according to a 1995 national study “Making a Difference: An Impact Study of Big Brothers Big Sisters,” after 18 months of spending time with “bigs,” the “littles” were 52 percent less likely to skip school, 46 percent less likely to use illegal drugs and 27 percent less likely to use alcohol.

She said Big Brothers Big Sisters provide “bigs” with a packet of things to do and places to go. Riendeau said the Community Bicycle Center was one of the many listings in the packet he found helpful when thinking of things to do with Munroe.

“Often times we have tickets for baseball games, art museums or exhibits for pairs to use. But it need not cost a lot of money. Sometimes it is as simple as washing a car, going to McDonalds or taking a walk on the beach,” Braziel said.

Riendeau said after hearing the need for mentors earlier this year, he decided to apply for the program. He and Munroe have been meeting regularly since then.

“We try to get together at least once a week for a couple of hours. I usually find plenty of things for us to do. He likes the outdoors, and I’ve been looking in the Yellow Pages for fun companies to visit, just so he can see what is out there for career opportunities. I try to stay two steps ahead of him,” Riendeau said.

AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America member Aaron Lawton helped Munroe with his bicycle. He showed Munroe and Riendeau what they needed to do to adjust the bicycle’s tire pressure, brakes, gears and chain. The three worked together to tune up and clean the bicycle, which Munroe said rode smooth when he took it for a spin after the adjustments.

Community Bicycle Center Executive Director Andy Greif said the center offers scheduled bike rides on Wednesday afternoons. While the staff led community youth on a bicycle ride to Fortunes Rocks, Lawton stayed behind with Riendeau and Munroe. Greif said he was happy to keep the center open for the pair’s activity.

“It is easier for boys to communicate through activity. They naturally fall into conversation while doing something together. I’d love to see more ‘bigs’ use the center,” Greif said.

Munroe, who stood not much taller than the workbench at the Community Bicycle Center, shared with Lawton and Riendeau some of his interests while working on the bicycle.

“I always take my bike out in the mud. I’m crazy with mud,” Munroe said. “I love biking and sports and fishing and sail boats. I want to go shark fishing.”

Riendeau has kept a log of things the two have done together. Riendeau has taken Munroe to the Children’s Museum in Portland, bowling, miniature golfing, to Home Depot for a craft workshop and Norumbega Farm in Camden. Riendeau has also helped Munroe practice for Little League tryouts.

Munroe said he likes pretty much everything he does with Riendeau, and couldn’t pick a favorite outing.

For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters, visit www.somebigs.org.

Organization offers modest ways to save in trying economic climate (July 25, 2008)

By Emma Bouthillette

Staff Writer

If you have spare change collecting in a jar at home, a new program in southern Maine can teach you how to turn it into savings.

York County Saves, the first local campaign of America Saves in Maine, is a nonprofit financial education program formed to help build financial savings, reduce current debt and build wealth. York County Community Action began the program with a “Saves Week” this spring, which offered special promotions, like no or low-fee savings accounts and a U.S. Savings Bond raffle.

“If you save $2.47 a day for a year, that is $1,000 in savings,” said York County Saves Program Coordinator Tory Leutman.

That is one of the many tips York County Saves has to offer to their members. Application to the program is free and can be completed online or in paper format. Members of York County Saves receive a quarterly newsletter from America Saves, tips and guidance on saving, as well as news on the current financial market.

The membership application for York County Saves reviews savings goals. Some of the options include home ownership, education, retirement, special event or product, debt reduction and vehicle ownership. Leutman said York County Saves can help members develop a plan to reach their savings goals.

Maine Treasury Department’s Director of Special Projects Kevin Thurston said State Treasurer David Lemoine endorsed York County Saves because he is committed to programs that teach residents how to increase financial savings and manage household debt. Thurston said the need for financial literacy education has become obvious.

“Savings are often the critical first step in realizing important quality-of-life purchases, such as cars, education and homes. Savings can also be the security needed to manage the personal family emergencies that are sure to arise in everyone’s lives. And as the current worldwide credit crunch illustrates, borrowed funds may not be available when you need them. Finding ways to set aside and save even small amounts has clear long-term value,” said Lemoine in a press release endorsing York County Saves.

A national nonprofit organization, Corporation for Enterprise Development, organizes data to identify ways to improve options for the low-income population, said Corporation for Enterprise Development Research Director Ida Rademacher. She said Corporation for Enterprise Development calculates 46 total outcome measures and assigned each state an overall grade, and Maine was one of the top states in terms of overall financial responsibility.

According to the grade Corporation for Enterprise Development determined, Maine has a median installment debt of $12,592. The description of installment debt Corporation for Enterprise Development provides says repaying debt in installments is a financial burden and can lead to household vulnerability in times of economic hardship.

Also according to Corporation for Enterprise Development, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Survey of Income and Program Participation reported 30.3 percent of Maine households have a non-interest bearing checking account, while 71.9 percent of Maine households hold interest bearing checking, savings or money market accounts.

According to the Corporation for Enterprise Development,savings accounts are one of the most basic asset-accumulation tools.

York County Saves has partnered with six local banks to help members start savings accounts and build up savings for whatever goals members may have.

Leutman said change doesn’t happen overnight, but even small savings can start with a hope or a dream and some sort of plan.

“People have told me it is impossible to save with this economy. I think now is more important than ever to start saving,” Leutman said.

For more information on York County Saves and to become a member, contact Tory Leutman at 324-5762 ext 291 or visit www.yccac.org. To view Maine’s grade, visit www.cfed.org.

Summah festival daze away (July 25, 2008)

By Renee Worthing

Staff Writer

Despite recent cool weather and thunderstorms, Summah Daze are here again.

For the fourth year in a row, downtown Sanford will be transformed into a community street festival featuring classic cars, art displays, musical entertainment and merchants.

The Downtown Legacy and the Sanford Springvale Chamber of Commerce partnered again this year to celebrate downtown businesses with Summah Daze, the warm weather sister of the winter festival Holly Daze.

The two-day downtown summer festival will kick off Friday, Aug. 1 at 5 p.m. with the Antique and Classic Car Rally. Registration for the car show will begin at 4 p.m. in the Sanford Junior High School parking lot.

Food vendors will line Main Street and “SideCar Heroes,” a contemporary a cappella quintet, will perform. Trophies for the car show will be presented at 7 p.m. and the band MRS [Margo, Rick and Steve] will take the stage in front of Sanford Institute for Savings to close the first day of festivities.

The revelry will continue Aug. 2 with the Junior Achievement Dog Walk, which will commence at 8 a.m. at Gowen Park.

The day’s festivities in Central Park include an art show featuring 15 artists, as well as “Taste of Sanford,” a sampling of food from 12 Sanford restaurants. Downtown Legacy Executive Director Thea Murphy said tickets for Taste of Sanford are limited and may be purchased for $5 at Central Park beginning at 9 a.m. “Blue Stream Band,” “Nate and Steve,” and “American Idol” Top 20 songwriter finalist Christie Leigh and the Crooked Hearts will provide musical entertainment.

Due to an expansion project at Sanford Institute for Savings building in MidTown Mall, children’s activities, which normally take place in the mall parking lot, will move to the Backstreet Grill parking lot, Murphy said.

Children’s activities will include a rock-climbing wall, “bouncy house,” a juggler, face painting and a magician.

In order to ensure safe crossing for pedestrians from the Backstreet Grill parking lot to Central Park, School Street will be closed from Washington Street up to Mousam Street from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 2.

Sanford town councilors approved the School Street closure as well as closing Main Street from Twombley Road to Washington Street from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Aug. 1 for the car show.

Downtown Legacy Promotion Committee Member Kim Stewart also said the motorcycle show, which was introduced to the festivities last year, will take place again, as a closing event.

Registration for the motorcycle show will be at the Applebee’s and Bank of America parking lot in the Center for Shopping from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

“It’s on the only festival open to the public at no cost,” Murphy said.

For more information, contact the Sanford Springvale Chamber of Commerce at 324-4280

Alcohol servers learn to look out for customers (July 25, 2008)

By Emma Bouthillette

Staff Writer

Sometimes it is the one pouring the drinks who needs to know when to say “when.”

On July 16, the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport hosted “Seller Server Training” for 38 bartenders, waiters and business owners to be up to date on their responsibility in the event a patron asks for one too many.

The event, sponsored by the University of New England’s Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition and co-sponsored by the Kennebunkport, Kennebunk, Old Orchard Beach and Saco police departments, was offered free of charge to any restaurant, bar and club that serves alcohol, as well as the servers and sellers.

The training is an effort to help prevent sales to underage and visibly intoxicated customers, as well as to promote a healthier and safer community and business environment, said Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition Program Director Bill Paterson.

Paterson said 12 establishments sent their employees to the five-hour, state approved training program to receive a certificate of completion and be registered with the Liquor Licensing Maine Department of Public Safety.

Biddeford restaurant Bebe’s Burritos owner Pam Francis attended the training with employee, Rachel Desjardins.

“It is really important that we stay up to date. Every time you turn around there is something new. And I’ve been told ignorance of the law is no exception,” Francis said.

B.C. Consultants of South Portland instructor Frank Lyons led last Wednesday’s training session. A retired law enforcement officer for local, county and state departments, he has spent 23 of 29 years in liquor law enforcement. He is certified to instruct licensees on Maine’s Liquor Laws, and has been teaching seller server training for three years.

“The training program has eight to nine specific areas. My emphasis is on the law,” said Lyons.

The training covered important definitions, effects of alcohol, categories of law, laws on alcohol sales, the Maine Liquor Liability Act and fraudulent identification. All those in attendance were instructed to take a pre-test covering information they would learn during the training, but should already know.

In addition to the potential dangers of intoxicated drivers, irresponsible sales can be costly for both the server and their employer.

One of the questions on the pre-test asked “True or False: Under the Maine Liquor Liability Act, a licensee may be sued for up to one million dollars for serving a visibly intoxicated person who causes injuries to a third person.”

Lyons said false because licensees can be sued up to $250,000, but said they could also be responsible for the third person’s medical expenses. If injuries sustained are severe enough, that could mean medical expenses for the remainder of the third party’s life.

“Most licensees have a good grasp of the law, but not the severity. Whether it is a violation or a civil suit, they don’t fully understand the magnitude,” Lyons said following the training.

The Maine Liquor Liability Act encourages responsible serving, which Lyons said includes identifying a patron’s level of sobriety and age. He said service to someone visibly intoxicated could lead to a lawsuit if property or physical damages occur due to intoxication.

A law passed nearly two years ago states anyone appearing under the age of 27 must show reliable photo identification, such as a valid driver’s license, containing the person’s birth date. If they provide false identification, or no identification, and reasonably appear to be a minor, sellers can deny service. Lyons shared what novelty, altered, forged or fictitious identifications cards can look like, and everyone received an order form for an identification-checking guide.

Local police departments can send a minor into an establishment to purchase alcohol as a way of conducting compliance checks, Lyons said. If the sale is completed, the police can fine the establishment up to $3,300 for selling alcohol to a minor and not checking identification.

“Establishments need to have training and good policies. They also need employees not afraid to make contacts with customers and decisions,” Lyons said.

Paterson said the Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition has received phone calls inquiring about training sessions. Lyons said currently there are no upcoming sessions scheduled in southern Maine, but said if there is enough demand he will schedule more.

For more information on Frank Lyons and B. C. Consultants, visit www.alcohol-training.com.

Weekly Interview: Randy Randall (July 25, 2008)

Randy Randall just likes to write about things.

Sitting at a picnic table overlooking his marina in Saco, Randall has one thing to say about his life: “This is play. I’m having a great time.”

Randall, who runs Marston’s Marina on the Saco River with his wife, Jean, recently published his first book, “Sandbox Camp Tales From a Maine Storyteller.” The paperback of short stories is 229 pages long. Many of the stories run around five pages.

Randall, 61, said all of his stories are based on things that have happened to him, family or friends.

“Now, how I tell the story, I take a few liberties,” he said. “Everybody’s got stories. I just like to listen to them.”

Randall said the stories he tells are not dissimilar to the stories of any Maine family.

“You go interview any Maine family that’s banged around in the outdoors, and you sit them down – everyone has the same stories,” he said. “The only difference is I wrote them down.”

Randall often thinks of stories to tell while out riding his bike or kayaking. He simply starts to reminisce, then thinks about how to embellish and entertain his audience. He describes himself as a raconteur and apprentice writer working to improve his style and delivery.

Randall said his book is designed for readers to flip through, reading a few pages at a time. The title comes from Randall’s family camp in Osborne Plantation, which he has owned for 28 years. The family called the camp the Sandbox because it is built on beach sand. For years, the camp has served as a gathering place for family and friends.

Randall began writing stories for those who visited the camp. He kept the stories in a three-ring binder and always had positive feedback from guests. Randall also asks all of his guests to write in a diary he keeps on the camp table.

Randall said a post in the cabin marking heights is a testament to how many people have stayed there. He and his wife began marking the heights of their sons on the post, and their children’s friends would want to be measured as well.

“If you look at the post now, there’s probably 100 different marks,” Randall said. “Half are for people I’ve never met. It’s precious.”

Randall spent his early years on his family’s farm in Saco and later moved to Old Orchard Beach. He graduated from the University of Maine in Orono with a degree in English. After graduation, Randall joined the Navy and served in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam.

After his tour of duty, Randall worked for IBM, where he specialized in using business computers in Maine paper mills. He married Jean in 1970 and they raised three sons, Matthew, Benjamin and Jeremy.

Once he retired from IBM in 2004, Randall returned to his life-long dream of writing short stories. He began to sell his stories to regional publications, including “The Maine Sportsman,” “No Umbrella,” “Points East Magazine,” “Downeast Magazine” and “Wolf Moon Journal.”

Eventually, Randall’s piles of stories became so large his wife suggested he had the makings of a book.

“It was kind of her idea, actually, to make the effort,” he said.

Randall began sending emails to publishers and found he was not discouraged by rejection.

“I finally got one who thought the stories had merit,” Randall said.

This encouraged Randall to keep writing. He has also been encouraged by his family’s response to the book.

Randall said his son and friend were staying at the camp recently and used the book to practice reading. The friend was studying to be a grammar school teacher and was nervous about reading aloud, so the pair took turns reading from Randall’s book.

“If I didn’t even sell a book, that story is worth all the effort of publishing and editing,” Randall said.

Randall’s favorite story from the book is “Old Salts, Geezers: Dockside Superintendents.” It tells of the old men who used to hang around the marina tinkering with boats and telling stories.

“That was another blessing, having those old World War II vets down here with a boat, hanging out, telling stories,” Randall said. “It’s great to know them.”

“I never felt the time we spent listening to those old geezers tell their stories was wasted because when you listened you heard very interesting tales,” Randall wrote in the “Old Salts” story.

One of the “geezers” was Charlie, who was at the marina frequently enough for customers to assume he was on the payroll. Charlie was a machinist for most of his life and was always willing to offer help or advice to those at the marina.

Once Charlie died, Randall had a brass plaque made that reads “Charlie’s Bench.” Randall takes pleasure in telling people about Charlie when they ask the meaning of the plaque.

When not working at the marina or helping care for his 93-year-old mother-in-law, Randall can be found pulling his lobster traps. He is a registered Maine Guide and a retired Scout Master. Randall is also enjoying his new grandson, Morgen.

Randall has been visiting local bookstores and libraries to tell them about his book and said he has had a nice reception. The book is available at Nonesuch Books in the Saco Valley Shopping Center for $24.95.

“It’s an uphill climb,” he said of getting word out about his book. “We’re figuring this out as we go along and having a good time doing it.”