Community Corner
🌱 Will downtown Sanford drivers soon have to start paying to park?
And on the Sanford Patch calendar - Sports 4 the Kids -Goals 4 the Kids Program Fall 2026

Hello Sanford! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Will downtown Sanford drivers soon have to start paying to park?
- How a Lake Monroe bass tournament will help restore the St. Johns
- Want a spooky night out in downtown Sanford this Thursday?
Also on today's calendar: True Health Be Healthy 5K & Kids' Run Presented by AdventHealth and 8 more events.
Today's riddle: What has a tail, but no body? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Tuesday: Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm, with a high of 88 and low of 76 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Wednesday: Breezy; a stray p.m. t-shower, temps: high: 88, low: 74.
- Thursday: Showers and a heavier t-storm, with a high of 87 and low of 73 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Sanford revisits paid parking discussion for downtown visitors, residents (clickorlando.com) — Sanford city commissioners will weigh whether to introduce paid parking in parts of downtown, a move consultants say could bring in over $1 million a year. The workshop discussion, set for Monday at 4 p.m., will guide staff on keeping free parking or moving ahead with a pay‑by‑app system on key streets and city lots residents use daily.
![]()
2. Mud Hole and Mighty River Recovery Announce Competitive Bass Fishing Tournament (coastalanglermag.com) — A new bass fishing tournament on Lake Monroe in Sanford on November 22 will bring anglers and attention to the St. Johns River's health. Teams will launch from Wayside Park, weigh in at Boat Tree Marina, and all sponsor and raffle proceeds support Mighty River Recovery's restoration work, giving local residents a chance to compete and contribute.
![]()
3. Catch John Carpenter's 'The Thing' at Ritz Theater Sept. 17 (orlandoshine.com) — Horror fans in Sanford can catch John Carpenter's classic "The Thing" at the Ritz Theater this Thursday, September 17, with a 7:30 p.m. screening downtown on Magnolia Avenue. Tickets are $7.50, offering locals an affordable night out at a historic Sanford venue while revisiting one of sci‑fi horror's most celebrated creature features on the big screen.
![]()
4. Presbyterian court upholds verdict: Pastor Burk Parsons guilty of harsh and domineering leadership (roysreport.com) — A Presbyterian Church in America judicial commission has again found Burk Parsons, pastor of Saint Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, guilty of harsh and domineering leadership, but reduced his penalty from suspension to admonition. The ruling follows years of complaints from congregants and Ligonier staff, and raises ongoing questions about accountability and spiritual abuse affecting members connected to the Sanford congregation.
![]()
📸 Around Sanford
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Sanford
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Sports 4 the Kids -Goals 4 the Kids Program Fall 2026 →
Seminole State College - Sanford/Lake Mary Campus, 100 Weldon Boulevard, Sanford
Wednesday September 16
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- True Health Be Healthy 5K & Kids' Run Presented by AdventHealth →
Sanford FL - On My Way To K with WUCF- Sanford →
Seminole County Public Library - North Branch, 150 North Palmetto Avenue, Sanford - Suds & Sounds - Foam Party Edition →
2702 South French Avenue, Sanford - On My Way to Kindergarten Family Pop-Up Experience with WUCF & PBS Kids →
Sanford FL
2:00 pm - "On My Way to Kindergarten" Family Pop-Up Experience with WUCF & PBS Kids →
150 N Palmetto Avenue, Sanford
2:00 pm - MallRatz Improv →
Theater West End, 115 West 1st Street, Sanford
7:00 pm - A Modern Approach to Mushroom Identification - North →
Sanford FL
6:30 pm - Just Show Up: Paint, Sip, and SANG Edition →
The Bayou Kitchen & Lounge, 115 East 1st Street, Sanford - 2nd Annual Chalk the Walk Suicide Awareness Event →
400 West Airport Boulevard, Sanford - Tea & Tarot: September Energy. Sip. Seek. Receive. →
1001 West 1st Street, Sanford
Saturday September 19
Sunday September 20
Tuesday September 22
Wednesday September 23
Saturday September 26
📣 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
- CRB® Designation - Building a Business Plan that Gets Results
Sihle Insurance Group , Altamonte Springs, FL
8:30 am
Tuesday September 15
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- My dad used to tell me this was God saying Good Morning.
Regardless of your religion (or lack of), I believe this would make anyone's soul sing (Nextdoor Bedford) - What's going on around the 7-11 on 46A?
Helicopter circling for past 15 minutes and not letting up. (Nextdoor Kaywood)
- The Toro Company posted a job opening for Material Handler - The Toro Company in Sanford. Apply here.
- Domtar Corporation posted a job opening for Roll Wrapper in Sanford. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Sanford here.
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: Coin (Thank you John W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.