Sanford will be buzzing on Bee City USA Field Day

Mar. 23—There is a big buzz about an upcoming event in Sanford — Bee City USA Field Day — which will take place on May 4.

During Tuesday's Sanford City Council meeting, as the city was finalizing street closures for the event, council members and the public got to learn more about the event from Liz Whitmore, a city planner and member of the Sanford Appearance Commission.

"Beekeeper Jody Moore is going to be there with six full suits that people can put on and he can pull out the hives for people to look up close," she said. "We will have Master Gardeners there, Dennis Brown, who is the beekeeper president for this region will bring an enclosed hive where you can see the queen crawling around and the Appearance Commission will have a booth there as well."

Whitmore said the Master Gardeners would be selling pots made of native plant materials.

"There's a lot of things going on that day," she said. This is our first time. We have one potential nurse that might be able to come in and sell plants. We're super-excited."

Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon said she is excited about the event.

"I know folks are looking forward to it," she said. "I've had many people ask me about what would they need to do to create a pollinator garden in their yard, so I know that there will be plenty of people interested in it."

Whitmore also mentioned the city's pollinator garden, which is a joint effort between the Environmental Affairs Board and the Appearance Commission and will be installed in early October.

Council approved closing a portion of Third Street for the event.

Council also approved temporary closures for Downtown Sanford concerts on May 19 and Sept. 19. The closures will affect Steele Street.

Council also approved a master park plan for Walter McNeil Jr. Park. The city recently held a meeting at the park with interested and residents and plans upgrades at the facility.