Calendar/Events

Browse the community calendar below for a listing of coalition member events. Use the ‘Categories’ drop down menu to select an area of interest and the ‘Agenda’ drop down menu to select how you wish to view the calendar. You may also post an event or provide a feed from your organization’s calendar by selecting from the green menus below at right (your submission will be reviewed for suitability).

The Sanford Strong Coalition has merged with the Allied Public Health group.

Contact:  Mesha Quinn.

Ongoing Events:

Due to Covid 19, these events are cancelled. Please stay tuned for updates!

  • Nasson Bike Center is looking for volunteers! The Nasson Bike Center is a resource for local youth looking for a bike, fix a bike, needing some community service time, or wanting to learn some mechanical and problem solving skills. We are looking for volunteers to mentor our kids as they rebuild bikes making them safe and reliable. We are open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 2 to 5:00 year round. There is no requirement that the volunteer participate a certain number of hours. It is helpful that they participate on a regular schedule. Read more.
  • Wellness at Walmart:  Daily @ 6:00 am – 8:00 am; Partners for Healthier Communities, Let’s Go!, Sanford YMCA, and Walmart have partnered to offer a space for the public to walk 7 days a week from 6:00 to 8:00 AM. All are welcome to join!  Contact:  Betsy Kelly. 

*NOTE* We are having technical difficulty with  “Agenda” displaying the full description of the event. Please change to “Month” for more information on the event. Simply click on the drop down box. We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.

*NOTE* We are having technical difficulty with “Post your event” link. Please click http://sanfordstrong.org/calendar/coalition-announcements/ to send an event to us. We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.

Apr
5
Wed
Planting Party at Springvale Public Library @ Springvale Public Library
Apr 5 @ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Hey Kids! Do you have a green thumb? Let’s find out!

If you are 7-13 years old, you are invited to come to the Planting Party in the Springvale Library Children’s Room. This is the fist one of the season to help start the seedlings that will becomes flowers, herbs and vegetables in tour patio garden. The seedlings will be growing at the library for the next two months.

Look for programs throughout the spring and summer that will involve gardening and the seedlings. This program is being offered by the library and some master gardener volunteers. Springvale Public Library is located at 443 Main Street.

For more information, call 207-324-4624, visit www.springvalelibrary.org and the library Facebook page.

Apr
6
Thu
Understanding Addiction @ SCAE, Anderson Learning Center
Apr 6 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Apr
13
Thu
Understanding Addiction @ SCAE, Anderson Learning Center
Apr 13 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Apr
20
Thu
Understanding Addiction @ SCAE, Anderson Learning Center
Apr 20 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Apr
25
Tue
Drug Free Communities task group @ Sanford Regional Technical Center WSSR-TV room
Apr 25 @ 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Nurturing Families @ Sanford Springvale YMCA
Apr 25 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
“Just One Pill” article in Journal Tribune
Apr 25 @ 4:45 pm – 5:45 pm

 

 

Movie Poster-1

 

Sanford High School Film Club’s movie “Just One Pill,” about drug addiction premiered at Smitty’s Cinema in Sanford Wednesday night. COURTESY PHOTO/Sanford High School Film Club

Student film sends powerful message

SANFORD — “Just One Pill” is the title of a film produced by Sanford High School’s film club. It premiered Wednesday night at Smitty’s, a local movie theater.

“Just One Pill” tells a story of the ease in which young people — or anyone, really — can fall under the spell of drugs.

Written by former student Sara Champagne and student Eve Kruger — Kruger also directed the film and played one of the lead roles — it is set at Sanford High School, but it could be any high school, anywhere.

Lead actors are Kruger, who plays Paula, and freshman Angela Surels, who plays Charlie.

“Paula is a recreational user, but her girlfriend Charlie gets addicted easily,” said Kruger.

In deference to future showings, the newspaper is remaining mum about the remainder of the plot.

“Just One Pill” was created after Strategies for a Stronger Sanford — hosts of the premiere — approached the film club to produce public service announcements speaking to the drug theme.

“We have an ardent belief that drug and alcohol messaging has to come from the youth,” said Lynne Hatch of SSS, which is tasked through a federal grant with providing substance abuse prevention to 13- through 18-year-olds. “We told them we needed help with messaging, and they led with it. They should be incredibly proud.”

The PSA, created by the film club and which were shown Wednesday after the film, are stark and hard-hitting — and will be seen regularly by local movie-goers at Smitty’s, said film club advisor James Harmon.

“Just One Pill” will undergo more editing this summer, and will be shown at the Sanford International Film Festival on Oct. 18.

School Superintendent David Theoharides, who spoke before the opening images of “Just One Pill” flashed on the screen, said school personnel are reporting to him that there are increased incidences of drugs at school, particularly since the legalization in January of marijuana for adult recreational use.

“Recently, we’ve seen a change,” said Theoharides — most notably he added, with younger students bringing marijuana “edibles” and baked goods to school.

“It scares me and it scares the School Board,” said Theoharides. He said the youngsters say their parents tell them marijuana is now legal — but he pointed out it isn’t legal for people under 21-years-old.

Champagne and Kruger began writing “Just One Pill” last summer, before Champagne went off to Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, so she wasn’t involved in the production itself.

“I thought it came out really, really well,” she said.

As to the writing, she said she and Kruger started throwing ideas together.

Kruger said she would vocalize what she was thinking while Champagne typed what she said, and vice versa.

Harmon thanked the entire cast and crew — some who took part for just a short time, others throughout the project — some with just one task, others with multiple tasks to juggle.

He pointed out “Just One Pill” is the beginning of a story.

“It’s very unique, very nice work,” he said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.

 

Apr
27
Thu
Understanding Addiction @ SCAE, Anderson Learning Center
Apr 27 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Apr
29
Sat
YMCA Healthy Kids Day @ Sanford-Springvale YMCA
Apr 29 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

A child’s development is never on vacation. Healthy Kids Day is the YMCA’s official start to the best summer ever for you and your family! The Y invites kids and families to join them on Saturday, April 29th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm for an afternoon of family-friendly live music, active play and games, science activities with STEAM, tic tac toe with the Springvale Library, fun gardening/planting activities with Black Kettle Farm, healthy snacks with Hannaford, arts and crafts, and more family fun!

This event will be followed by public swim from 3:00 to 5:45 pm. FREE and open to the community!

May
2
Tue
Nurturing Families @ Sanford Springvale YMCA
May 2 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am