🌱 How will Sanford’s year-long pause on needle exchange affect public safety?

Cheers Sanford! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How will Sanford’s year-long pause on needle exchange affect public safety?
• Want a free path into a health care job in Sanford?
• Sanford and Gorham communities remember Richard “Dick” Caldwell’s long, dedicated life.

Also on today's calendar: Christmoose with the Mainers and 4 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Windy; a p.m. snow shower, with a high of 36 and low of 11 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Partly sunny and colder, temps: high: 26, low: 13.
• Saturday: Partial sunshine, with a high of 31 and low of 20 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Sanford pauses its needle-exchange program, citing safety concerns (newscentermaine.com) — Sanford city councilors have voted to pause the city’s needle-exchange program for a year, citing safety concerns over discarded syringes and costly cleanups. Public health advocates warn the suspension could increase infections, while Maine CDC still backs non-syringe services that Maine Access Points will continue offering locally, including overdose education and HIV testing.
   

• MaineHealth offering free career training program in Sanford (wmtw.com) — A new free health-care career training program in Sanford will let residents 17 and older explore jobs like CNA, medical assistant, and phlebotomist while earning an automatic interview with MaineHealth. Run through Sanford Community Adult Education, the hybrid course starts registration Jan. 22 at Willard School and aims to ease local staffing shortages while opening doors for students without diplomas.
   

• Obituary: Richard 'Dick' Caldwell (pressherald.com) — Sanford is briefly noted as the home of LaValley Lumber, where Richard “Dick” Caldwell capped a long career in the building supply industry. The Gorham resident is remembered as an active volunteer, devoted family man, and avid outdoorsman, with calling hours Friday and a funeral service Saturday in Gorham.
   

📸 Around Sanford

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Sanford

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday December 12

• The Sound of Music
  Nasson Community Center and Little Theatre, 457 Main St, Springvale
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday December 13

• Christmoose with the Mainers
  Sanford Mainers , 917 Main St C , Sanford
  10:00 am
• Jingle & Mingle
  Sanford-Springvale Historical Society , 505 Main St , Springvale
  10:00 am

Friday December 19

• What the Dickens
  Nasson Community Center and Little Theatre , 457 Main St , Springvale
  7:30 pm

Wednesday December 31

• NYE 2026 Celebration
  Mill Towne Tavern and Billiards , 898 Main St , Sanford
  8:00 pm
• New Years Eve @ Mill Towne Tavern & Billiards
  Mill Towne Tavern and Billiards , 898 Main St , Sanford
  8:00 pm

Tuesday January 6

• Beyond Stick Figures! II (+ $10 - Materials Fee - due the first night of class) - Sanford, ME 2026
  Sanford Community Adult Education , 668 Main St , Sanford
  5:30 pm

📣 Sanford Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 11

• Pottery Painting, Seaglass Art & More - Open Studio at The Creative Soul
  The Creative Soul , 2 Christensen Lane , Kennebunk
  10:00 am
• Toddler Time
  Parsons Memorial Library , 27 Saco Rd , Alfred
  10:00 am
• Holiday Tea Party at The Lady Mary Inn
  Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamber of Commerce , 2 Elm Street , North Berwick
  11:30 am
• Holiday Gift Workshop for Kids
  Brick Store Museum , 117 Main Street , Kennebunk
  3:30 pm
• Storybook Cookie Event
  Kennebunkport Conservation Trust , 57 Gravelly Brook Road , Kennebunkport
  4:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Circle K Stores, Inc. posted a job opening for Team Member in Sanford. Apply here.
• Wendy's posted a job opening for Crew Member in Sanford. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Sanford here.

🗞 Nearby News

Alfred

• County Commissioners mull future use of York County Court House (sacobaynews.com)

Lebanon

• Husson University Theatre invites audience to laugh along with ‘This Must Be The Place' (bangordailynews.com)
• Mega Millions jackpot at $60 million on Tuesday, Dec. 9, winning numbers (heraldtribune.com)

Wells

Ok Sanford! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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