In the news
Saco police seek man
who robbed pharmacy
Saco police continue to investigate a Dec. 2 robbery at Hannaford.
According to police, a man entered the Saco Hannaford pharmacy on Main Street at 5:20 p.m. He initially gave employees a note demanding drugs. The man then displayed a utility knife before jumping over the counter to demand the narcotic Oxycontin, according to police.
The man fled the store on foot with an undisclosed amount of narcotics, according to police.
The man is described as in his late 30s or early 40s, about 6 feet tall and slim. Police are asking for the public’s help to identify the man. Anyone with information is asked to call 284-4535.
Man arrested in OOB
on cocaine charges
A Portland man was arrested on cocaine charges for the second time in two months.
James Charles, 38, was arrested Dec. 3 in Old Orchard Beach by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. He was charged with aggravated trafficking in crack cocaine. Police said Charles goes by the nickname “NYCE.”
Drug agents, working with Old Orchard Beach police, seized about $6,000 worth of cocaine and crack. Supervisor Steve Borst of the MDEA said Charles and some of his associates have been under investigation for several months and are suspected of importing “substantial” amounts of cocaine from the Boston area to sell in York and Cumberland counties.
Charles, who is originally from Hyde Park, Mass., also was arrested for the same offense on Oct. 15 following an indictment by the Cumberland County Grand Jury. He was out on bail when he was arrested last week.
Charles remains in custody at York County Jail.
Biddeford wins award
for annual festival
The city of Biddeford has won a national award for its annual Bacon Street Festival.
The city received one of 211 awards given to the 14,625 communities nationwide by the nonprofit National Association of Town Watch. The award recognizes the revitalization efforts in the neighborhood and the annual free family festival.
The Bacon Street Festival is part of NATW’s “National Night Out” program held the first week of August. National Night Out, started in 1984, has grown to involve more than 34 million people from more than 10,000 communities.
The Bacon Street event stemmed from revitalization work done in the downtown neighborhood by city departments, nonprofit organizations, community groups, property owners and residents, according to Community Development Coordinator Linda Waters.
Waters said the first festival was held in 2008 to showcase the neighborhood to about 300 people. In its second year, the festival was attended by more than 600 people who took part in free games, pony rides and musical performances.
Waters said she was surprised to find out about the award because Biddeford competed against much larger communities.
“We were the only Maine community awarded. We are very honored and encouraged,” she said.
The award will be presented to the city council at its Jan. 5 meeting.
Business park to honor
development director
The former Thatcher Brook Business Park will be formally dedicated to Biddeford’s former economic development director this month.
The Robert G. Dodge Business Park dedication is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Dec. 16 at the entrance on Barra Road. The program will include a welcome from Mayor Joanne Twomey and speakers Andrew Michaud from the Economic Improvement Commission and longtime friend Ed Caron.
Dodge served 32 years as the city’s economic development director before his death Feb. 3. City officials said he was instrumental in bringing industrial and business parks to the city and bringing new investment opportunities to Main Street.
‘Open Hands’ looking for coats
After nearly two months in operation, Open Hands, Open Hearts is asking community members to help fill gaps in what the organization has to offer.
Founder and director Elaine Fournier said the Saco organization has given 1,000 clothing items to 46 families since opening its doors Oct. 17. She said the organization has plenty of clothing to give away, especially infant and baby items.
Fournier said the group is in need of blankets and winter jackets, ski pants, boots, mittens and gloves for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. She said size five and six children’s coats are especially needed.
Open Hands, Open Hearts was founded earlier this year to provide gently used clothing to children in the Saco Bay area. Fournier said donations may be dropped off from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday; 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday; or 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Open Hands, Open Hearts is located next to the Saco Food Pantry at 67 Ocean Park Road. For more information, call 286-9939.
who robbed pharmacy
Saco police continue to investigate a Dec. 2 robbery at Hannaford.
According to police, a man entered the Saco Hannaford pharmacy on Main Street at 5:20 p.m. He initially gave employees a note demanding drugs. The man then displayed a utility knife before jumping over the counter to demand the narcotic Oxycontin, according to police.
The man fled the store on foot with an undisclosed amount of narcotics, according to police.
The man is described as in his late 30s or early 40s, about 6 feet tall and slim. Police are asking for the public’s help to identify the man. Anyone with information is asked to call 284-4535.
Man arrested in OOB
on cocaine charges
A Portland man was arrested on cocaine charges for the second time in two months.
James Charles, 38, was arrested Dec. 3 in Old Orchard Beach by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. He was charged with aggravated trafficking in crack cocaine. Police said Charles goes by the nickname “NYCE.”
Drug agents, working with Old Orchard Beach police, seized about $6,000 worth of cocaine and crack. Supervisor Steve Borst of the MDEA said Charles and some of his associates have been under investigation for several months and are suspected of importing “substantial” amounts of cocaine from the Boston area to sell in York and Cumberland counties.
Charles, who is originally from Hyde Park, Mass., also was arrested for the same offense on Oct. 15 following an indictment by the Cumberland County Grand Jury. He was out on bail when he was arrested last week.
Charles remains in custody at York County Jail.
Biddeford wins award
for annual festival
The city of Biddeford has won a national award for its annual Bacon Street Festival.
The city received one of 211 awards given to the 14,625 communities nationwide by the nonprofit National Association of Town Watch. The award recognizes the revitalization efforts in the neighborhood and the annual free family festival.
The Bacon Street Festival is part of NATW’s “National Night Out” program held the first week of August. National Night Out, started in 1984, has grown to involve more than 34 million people from more than 10,000 communities.
The Bacon Street event stemmed from revitalization work done in the downtown neighborhood by city departments, nonprofit organizations, community groups, property owners and residents, according to Community Development Coordinator Linda Waters.
Waters said the first festival was held in 2008 to showcase the neighborhood to about 300 people. In its second year, the festival was attended by more than 600 people who took part in free games, pony rides and musical performances.
Waters said she was surprised to find out about the award because Biddeford competed against much larger communities.
“We were the only Maine community awarded. We are very honored and encouraged,” she said.
The award will be presented to the city council at its Jan. 5 meeting.
Business park to honor
development director
The former Thatcher Brook Business Park will be formally dedicated to Biddeford’s former economic development director this month.
The Robert G. Dodge Business Park dedication is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Dec. 16 at the entrance on Barra Road. The program will include a welcome from Mayor Joanne Twomey and speakers Andrew Michaud from the Economic Improvement Commission and longtime friend Ed Caron.
Dodge served 32 years as the city’s economic development director before his death Feb. 3. City officials said he was instrumental in bringing industrial and business parks to the city and bringing new investment opportunities to Main Street.
‘Open Hands’ looking for coats
After nearly two months in operation, Open Hands, Open Hearts is asking community members to help fill gaps in what the organization has to offer.
Founder and director Elaine Fournier said the Saco organization has given 1,000 clothing items to 46 families since opening its doors Oct. 17. She said the organization has plenty of clothing to give away, especially infant and baby items.
Fournier said the group is in need of blankets and winter jackets, ski pants, boots, mittens and gloves for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. She said size five and six children’s coats are especially needed.
Open Hands, Open Hearts was founded earlier this year to provide gently used clothing to children in the Saco Bay area. Fournier said donations may be dropped off from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday; 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday; or 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Open Hands, Open Hearts is located next to the Saco Food Pantry at 67 Ocean Park Road. For more information, call 286-9939.
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