SBI investigating Sanford police officer involved shooting

For Release: Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014
Contact: Teresa West, special agent in charge, at twest@nddoj.gov

SANFORD - At the request of the Sanford Police Department, the SBI is investigating a Wednesday shooting incident involving a Sanford police officer who was attempting to serve warrants on Travis Faison, 26, for attempted murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. The warrants were in connection with a Dec. 5 shooting in Sanford.

A preliminary investigation indicates that members of the Sanford Police Department located Faison outside of 621 Magnolia Street in Sanford. Faison headed inside the residence and Officer Brently William Brown, 23, followed Faison inside the home.

The shooting occurred inside the residence. Faison had a firearm, which was recovered by the SBI.

Emergency medical attention was called to the residence; however, Faison died on the scene.

Officer Brown is on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Due to the ongoing investigation, further details on this case will not be released at this time.

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2014 Holiday Schedule

If you've driven around Sanford this week, you've likely noticed the city is decked out in its holiday splendor at key intersections and throughout downtown.

With the holidays fast approaching, mark your calendars with these City of Sanford special dates:

November
Cancelled - Sanford City Council's Law & Finance meeting on Wednesday, November 26
Closed - Thursday, November 27 (Happy Thanksgiving!)
Closed - Friday, November 28

December
Sanford Christmas Parade - Monday, December 1 at 7pm (see street closures)
Sanford Tree Lighting - Friday, December 5 at 5pm
Cancelled - Law and Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, December 10
Closed - Water Department on December 16 from 11:30am to 1:30pm
Closed - Wednesday, December 24
Closed - Thursday, December 25 (Merry Christmas!)
Closed - Friday, December 26
Cancelled - Law and Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, December 31

January
Thursday, January 1 (Happy New Year!)

Should you need help from the City during these dates, contact the Sanford Police Department front desk at 919-775-8268. As always, use 911 for emergency situations.

We hope you have a safe and happy holiday season!

First Citizens' Academy Graduates

Congratulations to the City of Sanford's first Sanford Citizens' Academy participants, who graduated during the November 18 meeting of the Sanford City Council.

Nine participants completed our inaugural session, which ran 8 weeks and included tours of the City's departments and facilities.

Participants, pictured below (l to r), were: Frank Lastowski, Brad Marin, Irene Smith, Jeanne Bethea, Leslie Oldham, Donese Pully, and Joann Thaxton. Not pictured are EJ Oberkirsch and Rodney Jones.

During the graduation, participants were recognized by Mayor Chet Mann and the Sanford City Council for their participation. They were presented with certificates of completion and a lapel pin in recognition of their new role as City of Sanford ambassadors.

Also included in the picture above are Mayor Chet Mann and Council member Rebecca Wyhof. Mann and Wyhof spearheaded the Sanford Citizens' Academy to help citizens better understand how the City of Sanford operates.

Here's a video that showcases highlights from the 8-week program:

For more information about the Sanford Citizens' Academy, contact Kelly Quinones Miller at 919-777-1133.

Streetscape Info Session in Jonesboro

The Jonesboro Historical Society hosted an information session yesterday afternoon to show community members the City's plans for the Jonesboro area of Sanford.

Sanford City Council member Jimmy Haire and City planner David Montgomery showed detailed plans for how the $1.5 million in streetscaping work approved in last November's bond referendum will change the area's look and feel.

For example, utility lines will be run underground, period lighting will be installed, and there will be crosswalks at the intersection of Lee Avenue and Main Street, Montgomery pointed out.

Exciting news: The City has completed the design and engineering work needed for the Jonesboro project and will beginning soliciting bids this month. Construction is expected to begin in April 2015.

Visit our website for more information on the Streetscapes and Pedestrian Improvements bond issue.

For questions about streetscaping in Jonesboro, contact David Montgomery at 919-777-1400.

Bonus: Here's a video of the Jonesboro fight song performed during the info session:

Public Notice: Intergovernmental Meeting

Members of the Sanford City Council and Lee County Board of Commissioners will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 10am. For questions, call 919-777-1111.

Intergovernmental Relationships Meeting Scheduled

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Members of the Sanford City Council and Lee County Board of Commissioners will meet on Monday, Sept. 22 at 11am to discuss intergovernmental relationships and cooperation.

Also note that there are several board vacancies. They are:

Railroad Repairs To Last All Week

The railroad crossings at McIver Street and Charlotte Avenue in downtown Sanford will be closed from Tuesday, September 2 through Tuesday, September 9 for repairs.

The repairs will be managed by CSX Railroad. Follow this established route to detour around the closings:

• From Charlotte Avenue: Turn left onto Hawkins Avenue. Turn right onto Weatherspoon Street. Turn right onto Third Street. You can then turn right onto McIver Street or Charlotte Avenue to reach downtown destinations. 

• From Third Street: Travel north to Weatherspoon Street. Turn left and travel west to Hawkins Avenue. Turn left and travel to Charlotte Avenue to reach downtown destinations.

(click on map to enlarge)

For questions concerning repairs at McIver Street and Chatham Street, contact Magda Holloway at 919-777-1207.

For questions regarding repairs at Charlotte Avenue and Chatham Street, contact the NC Department of Transportation at 919-775-3122.

City of Sanford Launches Its First Citizens' Academy

Residents of Sanford and Lee County are invited to participate in the City of Sanford’s first Citizens’ Academy.

The program will consist of eight interactive sessions that give participants an inside look at the City’s many facilities and processes, including tours of the Water Treatment Plant, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Municipal Golf Course, and both the Sanford Police Department and Sanford Fire Department.

Academy Mission

Participation in the Sanford Citizens’ Academy is free. The program’s goal is to educate residents about how their city government functions. At the end of the program, participants should have a greater understanding of how and why municipal decisions are made. Upon completion, residents should be more engaged in and knowledgeable about the City’s decision making process.

“The key to having a good city is having many ambassadors for your city who understand the process and have seen what it’s like to be on the staff side of the equation and understand what it takes to make a city run,” says Mayor Chet Mann, who spearheaded the program in conjunction with Councilwoman Rebecca Wyhof. “Those ambassadors can then help others understand why we do the things we do,” he says.

How To Participate

The Citizens’ Academy will be limited to 10 participants. Sessions will run on Tuesdays from September 9, 2014 through October 27, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. One night session will be required at the end of the program.

For more information about the Sanford Citizens’ Academy or to apply, visit our website or contact Kelly Quiñones Miller at 919-777-1133.

CUOC Reaps Rewards of Sanford's Largest NNO Yet

The City of Sanford’s 21st National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5 happened to be its biggest yet – both in number of sites and the number of people helped.

Several brand new sites helped swell Sanford’s total number of NNO locations to 37, the largest number of participants in Sanford’s history with the initiative. Previously, last year’s count of 35 sites held that record.

“That our National Night Out participation level continues to grow shows how committed our residents are to making their neighborhoods safer and more connected,” says Kelly Quiñones Miller, public information officer for the city of Sanford and program manager.

Even better: Sanford’s sites raised a combined 822 pounds of food for the Christians United Outreach Center of Lee County as part of Project 365, an NNO initiative that challenges participants to tackle a community need.

With more than 8, 400 families on file, the CUOC distributes an average 40,000 pounds of food to the Sanford and Lee County community each month – and that number continues to grow, says Teresa Dew Kelly, executive director of the CUOC. Food stability is crucial to a safe community, making food donations the perfect year-long challenge for NNO.

However, residents weren’t the only ones who got in the NNO and Project 365 spirit. First Apostolic Church raised $1,000 from local businesses. The church presented Kelly with a check during their NNO event at the Chatham Street Parking Lot. “We were excited to have this chance to give back to the community,” says George L. Akers III, student minister for the church and NNO organizer.

The NNO food donations will be used to feed 20 families of four. The monetary donation will be used to buy food at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina at the rate of $0.18 per pound. “The donation should go far,” Kelly says.

For more information on National Night Out or starting a Neighborhood Watch program, contact Miller at 919-777-1133 or kelly.miller@sanfordnc.net. To support the CUOC, contact the center at 919-774-8485 or visit their website.

Sanford Helps Arden Companies Win Manufacturing Innovation Grant

Arden Companies is set to receive a boost of more than $600,000 to help bring manufacturing back to the United States – and it has its Sanford location to thank.

In combination with NC State University’s College of Textiles, Arden Companies is one of seven grantees of the Walmart U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund. The Fund will award a total of $4 million to the seven winners to “create new processes, ideas, and jobs that will foster America’s growing manufacturing footprint.”

The College of Textiles and Arden will use the grant to develop an innovative digital printing system that will bring Arden’s soft goods production back to the United States while remaining globally competitive. Locally, that translates to more job opportunities for Sanford’s manufacturing base.

A crucial factor for the grant application’s success was Arden’s location. Only cities with mayors who are members of the US Conference of Mayors were eligible for the grant – and Sanford Mayor T. Chet Mann is one of those mayors.

“The City of Sanford believes in the resurgence of manufacturing in our area and nationwide,” Mann says. “We are in full support of this initiative and look forward to seeing its results in our community.”

Walmart’s goal for the grant is to “bring more jobs and more production back into American communities,” says Michelle Gloeckler, the company’s executive president of consumables and U.S. manufacturing.

Other awardees include Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis for implementation of metal 3-D printing, Oregon State University to develop alternative mold fabricating approaches, and Texas Tech University to support research on cotton production and biotechnology.

For more information on the grant, visit Walmart's U.S. Manufacturing website.

Tomorrow is National Night Out!

Neighbors across Sanford are gearing up for an evening of fighting crime by strengthening their friendships.

The nation's 31st and Sanford's 21st National Night Out kicks off tomorrow. Each neighborhood has set its own times for the event, but all 35 sites have planned an evening of entertainment and fellowship.

Find Your NNO Spot

You can see a map of sites here. We have two ways for you to view the full list of locations and coordinators: by start time or by ward. There's also a map you can print to take with you.

Movie Night Rescheduled

The Sandlot was cancelled for August 1 due to rain, but has been rescheduled for Friday, Aug. 8. We hope everyone will come out!

If you have questions or concerns about NNO, contact Kelly Quinones Miller at 919-777-1133.

Sanford NNO Is On The Map

Looking for a National Night Out event to attend? Here's a map of Sanford's registered sites. Find one in your neighborhood or choose one of the many community sites (indicated in green).

NNO Movie In The Park

In support of the National Night Out program, the Central Carolina Jaycees are hosting a special movie night.

On Friday, August 1, the community is invited to come watch The Sandlot in Depot Park starting at dusk (approx 8:30pm). Bring your own blanket or chairs. The Jaycees will have concessions available for purchase.

This will be our last NNO precursor event. Anyone interested in hosting an event can come ask questions or get suggestions.

See you in the park!

Sanford Takes On Self Defense for NNO

Children and adults alike learned basic self defense techniques and got tips on how to stay safe in any environment at Black Belt Leadership Academy's special NNO precursor event on July 19.

In addition to the hands-on practice, attendees also received a lesson in home security from Capt. Marshall Cameron of the Sanford Police Department.

See more photos from the event here.

Good news: We have added a fourth NNO precursor event. The Central Carolina Jaycees will show The Sandlot in Depot Park on August 1 to support National Night Out. The movie will begin at dusk (8:30pm).

Sanford Wins Support For Community Integration Initiative

The City of Sanford is one of only two North Carolina cities to win a Building Integrated Communities (BIC) in-kind grant from UNC Chapel Hill to lead a city-wide effort to create comprehensive integration plans for foreign-born residents.

The grant will provide the department in-kind support over the next two years with needs assessment, planning and facilitating community workshops, surveying successful efforts in other communities and more.
The support will be provided by the staff of the Latino Migration Project at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“We are tremendously excited about this opportunity,” says Marshall Downey, director of Planning and Community Development for the City of Sanford and Lee County. “We hope to partner with various local agencies and identify strategies to assist our local Hispanic population in ways to better plug in to local government, businesses, and our community as a whole.”

“The Hispanic population has become a significant part of our community over the past 15 years,” notes Rev. Bob Bridwell, deacon at St. Stephen Catholic Church and volunteer coordinator for the program. “This grant gives us a unique opportunity to help these families and individuals contribute and prosper,” he says.

“Being one of only two finalists out of ten NC municipalities for this project speaks to the hard work and dedication of our staff and citizens to help integrate, support, and promote our Latino population,” says Mayor Chet Mann. “As a City on the upswing, strengthening connections for any group benefits us all as a community,” he points out.

To apply the grant, the planning department will hold a series of public meetings over the next two years. The community as a whole will be able to participate and help guide the process.

BIC is a statewide initiative that helps North Carolina’s local governments successfully engage with immigrants and refugee populations in order to improve public safety, promote economic development, enhance communication, and improve relationships.

Ten municipalities in North Carolina expressed interest in the BIC grant. Sanford and Winston-Salem were the only two selected.

Learn more about the BIC grant program on UNC's website.

Community Tours the Sanford Fire Department

Firefighter Tracy Watson with the Sanford Fire Department led a community tour on Thursday, July 10 for National Night Out.

Firefighters are often the first responders a family sees after a tragic event. Tours like these help children feel more comfortable with firefighters and help adults better prevent accidents.

See more photos from the tour here.

There is one more NNO pre-cursor events. On July 19, Black Belt Leadership Academy is hosting a self-defense session for families. The event is for people of all ages and abilities.

Update: We have added a fourth event. The Central Carolina Jaycees will show The Sandlot in Depot Park on August 1 to support National Night Out. The movie will begin at dusk (8:30pm).

Service Line Warranties of America Has City's Stamp of Approval

Many residents have received letters from Service Line Warranties of America (SLWA), but aren't sure whether the company and its services are legitimate.

The good news: SLWA is a trustworthy company that has been vetted by the National League of Cities (NLC). The company provides water/sewer line warranty services to residents across the nation. It has been in business for more than 10 years and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Because SLWA has the NLC's support, the City of Sanford authorized it to educate Sanford residents about their water/sewer line obligations and to offer warranty services.

Important: The City's stamp of approval does not mean that residents must opt into the program. Each resident should weigh the risks and benefits and make the decision that is right for them. SLWA will manage all claims and provide all services. The City of Sanford will in no way supervise or benefit from the program.

Learn more about SLWA on their website or call 866-922-9006. For more details about the warranty program, visit our website.

Downey Named New Planning Director

Marshall Downey, who has served as the assistant director of Planning and Community Development for the past eleven years, has been selected as the department’s director.

As director, Downey will oversee planning and development administration, inspections services, code enforcement, strategic services, community enhancement, community development, and zoning. He has served as interim director for the past two months following long-time director Robert ‘Bob’ Bridwell’s retirement from the position.

Downey is a driving force behind updating the Sanford/Lee County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to modernize the city-county’s land use regulations and make our corridors more attractive to potential investors. He will work closely with the Department of Public Works to implement the city’s $14.5 million bond projects.

However, Downey’s new role isn’t the only change facing the Planning and Community Development department. Althea Thompson will now serve as Zoning Administrator and will be the final authority on all zoning decisions. She will also serve as gate keeper of the city-county UDO.

Amy McNeill will now serve as Design Review Coordinator. She will supervise and coordinate review and zoning approval for all commercial and multi-family development proposals/site plans for Sanford, Lee County, and Broadway.

Thompson and McNeill will work together to provide primary staff support for the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment for Sanford, Lee County, and Broadway.

With these changes, the department will be smaller and more efficient, making it better able to coordinate services and integrate with other agencies. “With Mr. Bridwell’s retirement, we are restructuring the Planning and Community Development department by not filling the Assistant Director position,” says Hal Hegwer, city manager. “I am pleased to have very talented and experienced staff that can fill that void seamlessly.”

Downey, Thompson, and McNeill will assume their new positions effective immediately.

East Weatherspoon Street Closed Next Week

East Weatherspoon Street will be closed from the Sanford Municipal Center to Hawkins Avenue next week for critical sewer maintenance.

Crews will close both lanes of the street starting at 8am on Tuesday, June 24 for the remainder of the week.

Drivers needing to access East Weatherspoon Street from Hawkins Avenue or Horner Boulevard can detour around the closure using Charlotte Avenue and Third Street (view a detour map).

For more information about the closure, contact the City of Sanford’s engineering department at 919-777-1122.

Horner Blvd Resurfacing To Start June 19

The NC Department of Transportation (DOT) will close portions of Horner Boulevard from Fields Drive to Main Street for resurfacing starting June 22.

However, portions of that stretch of road will be closed starting Thursday, June 19 as work crews prepare the road for resurfacing. From June 19 through June 22, crews will adjust manholes and water valves, cut pavement joints, and mill asphalt.

Important: Both the preliminary and resurfacing work will require lanes to be narrowed or closed from 8pm to 7am each day. Lanes will not be closed between 7am and 8pm on any of those days.

This project is part of a $4 million contract that includes resurfacing sections of US 15-501 and nine sections of secondary roads in Chatham and Lee counties. Included in the scope of work is resurfacing of 15-501 from US Hwy 1 to the Moore County line, which will be done at a later time.

The Horner Boulevard project will be completed by June 30.

For more information about the project, the DOT contact is Gary Phillips, resident engineer, at 919-776-9623.

Community Tours the Sanford Police Department

National Night Out used to be something that happened once night in August, but not anymore.

On Thursday night, community leaders and residents came out to the Sanford Police Department to learn more about National Night Out and their local department.

See more photos from the tour here.

There are two more NNO pre-cursor events. On July 10, the Sanford Fire Department will host a community tour, and on July 19, Black Belt Leadership Academy is hosting a self-defense session for families.

Update: We have added a fourth event. The Central Carolina Jaycees will show The Sandlot in Depot Park on August 1 to support National Night Out. The movie will begin at dusk (8:30pm).

US Open Wayfinding Site in Sanford

For the next few weeks, Sanford is home to one of only six painted wayfinding sites for the U.S. Open, which is happening in Pinehurst this month.

Funded by the N.C. Department of Transportation, our site is located at the Spring Lane exit on U.S. Hwy 1 S. It was painted this week and will be touched up until after the women's open in mid-June. After, the site will be mowed to remove the paint.

Other painted sites in North Carolina are located at:

• 1-40 at Exit 291 on Cary Towne Blvd;
• US 1 at Walnut Street in Raleigh;
• I-73/74 at NC 211 in Candor;
• 1-74/74 Rest Area in Randolph County; and
• 1-73/74 and Hwy 64 in Asheboro

Only the Candor site features a putting green and white arrow. The rest have white arrows only.

See photos of the DOT creating the site on our Facebook page.

Blell Named Public Works Employee Of The Year

Matthew Blell, Lead Utility Maintenance Worker for the Sewer Construction and Maintenance Division of the City of Sanford Public Works Department has been named 2014 Public Works Employee of the Year, according to Laura Spivey, Public Works Administrator.

This award is presented to the employee who is considered to have best represented the Public Works Department over the last year.

Blell has worked for the City since November 2011, is a native of Sanford, and lives in Sanford. Blell was presented the award on Thursday, May 22 by Public Works Director Victor Czar (pictured right) and Fedd Walker, City Sewer Superintendent.

Blell was nominated and elected to this honor from a pool of approximately 127 Public Works employees at the City. Blell received nominations from his peers, and then was awarded the honor based on the final vote by the Public Works Superintendents.

 Blell is married to wife Annette and they have two boys, Mason 4 and Brody 1.

How does it feel to be the Employee of the Year? “Shocking! I am honored and humbled by it, I feel blessed!” says Blell.

What do you like most about your job? “I like the mobility of the job and working with other City employees. All my coworkers are friendly and easy to work with. I feel blessed to work for the City of Sanford where I am well taken care of,” he says.

Council Appoints Byron Buckels For Ward 4

Long-time Sanford resident Byron Buckels was sworn into the Sanford City Council at the May 28 Law and Finance Committee meeting. Buckels will represent Ward 4 – filling the seat previously held for 33 consecutive years by Walter McNeil, Jr.

Buckels is a veteran of the U.S. Army and served during Operation Desert Storm. He has served in the ministry for the past 21 years, during which he coordinated and served on mission trips both nationally and internationally to countries such as Japan, Bahamas, and Kenya, Africa.

A community activist, Buckels is a co-founder of The Nation of Big Brothers, an organization comprised of men that mentor young boys and provide positive influences for adult males. He has been instrumental in writing and securing grants for after school programs that continue to serve youth in our community.

Buckels was nominated to fill the Ward 4 seat by Billie McNeil, widow of Walter McNeil, Jr. He was chosen because he represents “the best of the old and the best of the new,” said Mayor Chet Mann during the meeting.

“McNeil has what I call hall-of-fame status,” Buckels told The Sanford Herald. “It can’t really be compared to. To be chosen [to fill his seat], it means a lot. Words can’t really say it.”

Read more about Buckels and his swearing in the May 29 edition of The Sanford Herald.

National Night Out Coordinators' Meeting

Community members planning to host National Night Out events in Sanford came together on May 5 for planning, prizes, and brainstorming.

Coordinators also won lots of prizes, including hats, a tote, helmets, and two $25 gift cards to Walmart. Our winners were very excited!

National Night Out is a city-wide celebration held on the first Tuesday in August each year. The goal is for people to meet their neighbors and fight back against crime.

If you couldn't make it, but would like to sign up to host a National Night Out event (on August 5 this year), contact Kelly at 919-777-1133 or kelly.miller@sanfordnc.net.

Fire Tower Road Clean Up

The City of Sanford's Appearance Commission picked up trash along Fire Tower Road in Sanford this past Saturday with the help of the Sanford/Lee County Boys and Girls Club.

In attendance were Anne Sears, Rex Connor, Deon Allbrooks, David Schau and Liz Whitmore. Deon brought seven youth from the Club to pitch in.

Together, the group collected 17 bags of trash.

If your youth group or organization would like to help the Appearance Commission, contact Liz Whitmore at 919-777-1406. The next collection day will be in late September.

Sanford's Day of Prayer

Hundreds of religious leaders, civic leaders, and community members gathered together throughout the day on Thursday, May 1 for local prayer events in honor of the National Day of Prayer.

The day began with the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast at First Presbyterian Church. Mayor Chet Mann, Father Hector La Chapelle, Rev. Ron Stoker, Rev. Iris Jordan, Rev. Linda Smith, and Bob Bridwell presented an inspirational program.

At noon, Pastor Bruce MacInnes of Turner's Chapel Church led his annual prayer ceremony at the war memorial at the Sanford Municipal Center. Church leaders from across the county gathered to participate and lead gatherers in prayer.

That evening, newly ordained Catholic minister Bob Bridwell of St. Stephen Catholic Church joined Rev. Tim Martin of Trinity Lutheran Church and Father Craig Lister of St. Thomas Episcopal Church for a Vespers program in Depot Park.

Following these events, New Hope Baptist Church held a community prayer service at their church on Beechtree Drive.

Read The Sanford Herald's summary of the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast and the noon prayer service. The articles are free to read, but you may have to register.

See more photos from the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, the noon prayer service, and the Vespers program on our Facebook page.

Sanford Block Party Spruces Up Hawkins Avenue

Volunteers from across the community came out to Hawkins Avenue today to paint, landscape, and otherwise add a fresh face to one of Sanford's most traveled streets at the Sanford Block Party.

Though the block party didn't officially start until 8am, volunteers and City staffers worked through the week to prepare for the big day.

Then, this morning, volunteers converged on the section of Hawkins Avenue from Weatherspoon Street to Hill Avenue to give the street a face lift while also enjoying each other's company.

To see all photos from the day, check out our Facebook album. Feel free to tag yourself and your friends!

NNO Kicks Off With Free Bike Rodeo For Kids

The City of Sanford is planning another fun summer of National Night Out activities to promote safety and fellowship in Sanford -- and the first one is this Sunday.

Bring children out to the Sanford Fitness Fest in downtown Sanford to participate in our National Night Out Bike Rodeo for Kids. They'll be able to ride an agility course, play games, and learn how to ride their bikes safely.

The Sanford Police Department will also have the Mobile Unit available for tours.

This year, we're also giving out free helmets while supplies last. The helmets were donated by the N.C. Dept. of Transportation's bicycle and pedestrian division.

Get more details and share the event with your friends on our Facebook page. Here's a flyer to post in your workplace.

Stay tuned for a full schedule of events for the summer.

National Day of Prayer in Sanford

In honor of the National Day of Prayer on May 1, the City of Sanford and Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce invites the community for a morning of fellowship and inspiration at the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast.

Table sponsorships are full; however, individuals may attend for free. You must pre-register by April 29 on the Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce's website.

There are three community events following the breakfast to extend prayer throughout the day. They are:

• Noon Prayer Service at City Hall (12pm)
  Rev. Bruce MacInnes of Turner’s Chapel Church will lead a community prayer ceremony at the flags next to the War Memorial on the lawn of the Sanford Municipal Center. Mayor Chet Mann and others will also make remarks. This service is open to all.

• Evening Prayer Service at Depot Park (5:30pm)
  Join together at Depot Park in downtown Sanford for Vespers, an evening service that includes liturgical music, readings, and prayer. Rev. Timothy Martin of Trinity Lutheran Church, Father Craig Lister of St. Thomas Episcopalian Church, and Mr. Bob Bridwell of St. Stephen Catholic Church will perform the service with the help of local vocalist Jessica Traversino.

• Evening Prayer Service at New Hope Baptist Church (6:30pm)
  Senior Pastor Brian Parker will lead a prayer service for adults and students. The service will also include a community choir that has been assembled by Kenny Lamb. The service is open to all.

For more questions about any of these National Day of Prayer events, contact Kelly Quinones Miller in the public information office at 919-777-1133.

NNO 2014: Sanford's Night Out Against Crime

The City is gearing up for yet another fun National Night Out (NNO) -- and we want your neighborhood to join in the festivities.

NNO, called "American's Night Out Against Crime," is a joint effort of local police and communities to organize neighborhoods to fight back against crime. It happens every year on the first Tuesday of August in cities across the country. This year, that's Tuesday, August 5.

In Sanford, NNO was first championed by late Council member Walter McNeil, Jr. in 1993, making this our 21st year of participation.

[Click here for a list of frequently asked questions and answers about NNO.]

A Summer of Safety

We had so much fun with our National Night Out precursor events that we're planning to continue them this year. At each event, you can sign up to coordinate an NNO event, win prizes, and donate items to the CUOC. We have lots of bike helmets to give away this year!

Plan to join us at one -- or all -- of these pre-events:

• Bike Rodeo for Kids, April 29 from 1pm to 3pm
  Bring children out to the Sanford Fitness Fest in downtown Sanford to participate in our National Night Out Bike Rodeo for Kids. They'll be able to ride an agility course, play games, and learn how to ride their bikes safely.

• Community Tour of the Sanford Police Department, June 12 at 6:30pm
  Bring the whole family for a guided tour of the Sanford Police Department. You'll get to meet many of the officers who keep Sanford safe each day. The tour will begin promptly at 6:30pm, rain or shine. Make sure to enter at the Police Department.

• Community Tour of the Sanford Fire Department, July 10 at 6:30pm
  Bring your family for a guided tour of the Sanford Fire Department’s Central Station. You’ll get to meet many of the firefighters who keep Sanford safe, learn more about fire prevention, and ask any questions you have about the department. The tour will begin promptly at 6:30pm, rain or shine.

• Personal Safety For Families at Black Belt Leadership Academy, July 19 at 1pm
  Come get practical, hands-on advice for protecting yourself. This self-defense event is geared toward families, so children will get invaluable advice for fending off an attacker and being safe in any situation.

Can't make it any of those nights? You can download a form here to mail in or drop off. Click here to download an NNO flyer to share with your friends and co-workers.

Project 365

While NNO happens only one night each year, the City also participates in Project 365, a program that encourages us to designate a problem in the community that we can tackle as a group over the course of a year to create safer neighborhoods.

As with last year, we are partnering with the Christians' United Outreach Center to reduce hunger in Sanford and Lee County. For us, a more food-secure community is a safer one, and by working together, we can make that goal a reality.

How it will work: At every event, coordinators will be asked to collect non-perishable food items to donate to the Center. Donations will also be collected at each NNO activity hosted by the City. In return, the CUOC will help keep track of our donations so that we can see what we've accomplished at the end of 365 days.

You can expect to hear more about this as the summer wears on.

August 5 National Night Out Events

We will publish a list of National Night Out sites closer to August. We'll also create an interactive Google Map to help you find the site nearest you.

Questions?

You can direct questions, suggestions, or concerns to Kelly Quinones Miller, the City's public information officer and this year's program manager, at 919-777-1133 or kelly.miller@sanfordnc.net.

City Opens 2014 GovDeals Auction

Need a new vehicle? How about office equipment, radios, or a backhoe? The City of Sanford has you covered.

Starting today, the City has nearly 30 items available for auction on GovDeals.com, a site that allows government agencies to sell surplus items to the public. Items range from big ticket (a utility van and retired police cars) to next-to-nothing (a $10 lamp).

Each auction will end 2 weeks from its start date.

See What We're Selling

You can get item photos and descriptions, as well as place your bid, by going to GovDeals.com and entering "Sanford" in the search box.

Quick link: To go directly to the City of Sanford's listings, click here.

Get Registered

Anyone can bid on auction hosted at GovDeals. But before you can place a bid, you'll need to register to use the service. You'll have to enter a phone number where the site can call or text you to validate your registration.

After the validation, you'll receive an email from GovDeals' customer service department. Click the link in the email and then enter the username and password you set up during registration.

From start to finish, the registration process lasts no longer than five minutes.

Start Bidding

Once you've registered, run your search for "Sanford." When you click on any of the items, you'll see a bidding form on the left of the description screen. Enter your bid and you're officially part of the auction.

Make sure you read the terms and conditions for all items before you place your bid. Everything you need to know is right on the description screen.

Payment & Pick Up

If you place the winning bid, GovDeals will issue you a buyer's certificate and you'll have five business days to make your payment. For items less than $5,000, you can pay by credit card or Paypal. You may pay by wire transfer for items that cost more than $5,000.

Note that a 5% buyer's premium is added to the final selling price of each item, in addition to any taxes imposed.

Once you make your payment, you can schedule a time to pick up your item(s). You must remove the item from City property within 10 days of the date on your certificate.

Questions?

For more information about our items or to arrange an inspection of what's for sale, contact Randy Paschal at 919-777-1250 or send an email to randy.paschal@sanfordnc.net.