🌱 What this new state grant means for Astellas jobs in Sanford
Sanford, North Carolina Patch AM: a 4 min readWhat's up Sanford! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- What this new state grant means for Astellas jobs in Sanford
- How a Sanford tragedy helped reshape lifeguard strategy at Fort Fisher
Also on today's calendar: Carolina Indie Fest 2026 and 5 more events.
Today's riddle: what do you call a rabbit with fleas? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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- Wednesday: Nice with clouds and sun, with a high of 77 and low of 55 degrees.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 71, low: 42.
- Friday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 75 and low of 48 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• State grants Astellas $291k annual economic incentive payment (businessnc.com) — Astellas Gene Therapies’ plant in Sanford just secured a $291,774 state incentive payment after largely meeting job and investment goals, and it’s paying average wages of more than $160,000. The company still needs to add more positions but expects to hit its job targets by 2027 or 2028, keeping this high-paying biotech operation growing in Lee County. 
• Fort Fisher brings lifeguards closer to swimmers with mobile units (wect.com) — Beach safety at Fort Fisher is getting a boost from mobile lifeguard stands that move closer to where swimmers actually enter the water, sharply reducing rescues compared with past years. The change follows a tragic 2023 incident when a man from Sanford drowned while trying to save children from a rip current, prompting renewed focus on prevention and awareness.
📸 Around Sanford
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Sanford
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
-
Romance Book Club →
MonkeyKat Books, 105 Carbonton Rd, Sanford
6:30 pm
Thursday May 14
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
-
Ribbon Cutting: Failures Not An Option 5/2026
Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce Failures Not An Option, LLC 1429 Carthage Street Sanford, NC 27330
12:00 pm -
Carolina Indie Fest 2026 →
Hugger Mugger Brewing Company, 229 Wicker St, Sanford
5:00 pm -
Carolina Indie Fest-Spring 2026 →
Hugger Mugger Brewing Company, 229 Wicker St, Sanford
5:00 pm -
Hillsborough Street Jazz Trio →
Temple Theatre, 120 Carthage St, Sanford
7:00 pm -
Helping Hands Tournament →
City of Sanford, NC Calendar, 600 Golf Course Lane, Sanford
8:30 am -
Crank Up at Ole Gilliam Mill Park 2026 →
Ole Gilliam Mill Park, 4717 Carbonton Rd #4637, Sanford
9:00 am -
Saturday Storytime →
MonkeyKat Books, 105 Carbonton Rd, Sanford
10:30 am
Friday May 15
Saturday May 16
📣 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
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Ribbon Cutting: Homestead 5/2026
Sanford Area Growth Alliance Homestead 115 Whetstone Road Sanford, NC 27332
12:00 pm -
Goldston Story & Crafts →
Goldston Public Library, 9235 Pittsboro Goldston Rd, Goldston
11:00 am -
Goldston Preschool LEGOs →
Goldston Public Library, 9235 Pittsboro Goldston Rd, Goldston
11:30 am -
Goldston Evening Book Club →
Goldston Public Library, 9235 Pittsboro Goldston Rd, Goldston
5:30 pm
Wednesday May 13
Thursday May 14
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Anyone interested in a full blooded pit puppy?
She’s 10-12wks old. She’s very sweet. I’m currently 30wks pregnant with twins. I rescued her and her brother. I can only keep one. (Nextdoor Tramway) - Attention Sanford Wing Nuts!!!
Wing Run is in Sanford again!! WHEN: Thursday 5/14/26 from 1130am till..... WHERE: 200 S Horner Blvd @ Wana Navu Kava Bar Serving our jumbo… (Nextdoor Westlake Valley)
- Harvard Maintenance posted a job opening for Janitorial Cleaner - Empleado de limpieza-37405 in Sanford. Apply here.
- Kentucky Fried Chicken posted a job opening for Team Member in Sanford. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Sanford here.
🗞 Nearby News
Pittsboro
- Local Government Meetings: May 11-15, 2026 (chapelboro.com)
Carthage
- Moore Coffee Company brewing in downtown Carthage (sandhillssentinel.com)
- Behind the scenes of the Carthage Pro Rodeo with a professional cowboy (sandhillssentinel.com)
Holly Springs
- Affordability, Voter Frustration and Messaging Emerge as Flash Points At Congresswoman Foushee Event in Holly Springs (NC) (hollyspringsupdate.com)
- WRAL investigative reporting honored with Service to America Award (wral.com)
- Beloved Wake County neighborhood restaurant and taproom closes after 23 years (newsobserver.com)
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: Bugs Bunny ! (Thank you bruce A. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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