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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 148, No. 1
20 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
January 5, 2017
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 6B
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Inching closer
BRAG officials review ‘To do list,’ plea for volunteers By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Slowly but surely, the BRAG sports complex “To Do” list is shrinking. While it appears the multifield recreation complex off Route 302 in Bridgton will not be ready for a town vote to assume ownership in June, BRAG officials are optimistic that all T’s will be crossed and I’s dotted by fall. “We’re making steady progress,” Bridgton Recreation Advancement Group (BRAG) president Bill Macdonald told selectmen at a recent workshop meeting. “The remaining money we have will cover drainage (Field 4/soccer field) and septic. Our focus will then turn to getting the concession building up.” The price tags for drainage and septic work have been estimated at $20,000 and $10,000, respectively, which will significantly draw down BRAG’s project account. BRAG is in fundraising mode, offering a variety of ways the public can invest in the sports complex (see Page 10A). BRAG Vice President Larry Carter said response to THAT SNOWMOUND IS A VEHICLE — White is a popular color for vehicles — or the “purchase a business sign” at least, that is what most Lake Region residents woke up to on Friday after a wallop project has been very good. of a December snowstorm. (De Busk Photo) The hope is to sell between 20
to 30 metal signs, which are placed on the outfield fences at the complex. Businesses or groups can purchase a sign for a year or three years. Carter pointed out that the metal is from Everlast Roofing, while the lettering is done by Muddy River Signs, both of Bridgton. “If anything happens to a sign, BRAG takes care of it,” Carter said. “We’re hoping to bring in about $20,000 with these signs. They are taken down for the winter, and go back up in April.” One major expense BRAG is looking at is tapping into a water source. Depending upon the depth of the well, estimated costs could be $13,000 to $15,000. Selectman Bear Zaidman asked whether BRAG had contacted the Bridgton Water Department regarding the cost of running a water line (tapping into the town’s water system) from Sandy Creek Road to the complex. “Rex (Rolfe) felt we would be talking about a lot more money — more than $15,000 — if we went that route,” Carter said.
“It would be worth looking into,” Zaidman said. Another option would be to tap into Stevens Brook during the summer months, Carter noted. As for the concession building, Macdonald said BRAG has several people lined up to construct the building, but money or material donations are needed. Macdonald pointed out that BRAG is just one of 60 to 65 local organizations that seek financial help from local businesses. “We’re all fighting for the same dollars,” he said. He added that some previous grants that BRAG did manage to land will no longer be available. When asked again about launching a capital campaign to finance the final pieces so that the complex can be presented to the town for acceptance, BRAG member Corinne Davis said what continues to hold the group back is lack of numbers. “We need other people to step up and get involved. You can’t expect the same people BRAG, Page 10A
Everlast Roofing quietly growing By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer When Lee Eastman considered opening a metal roofing company in Bridgton nearly 15 years ago, he was very comfortable with his decision. He liked the location. He saw potential of a former mill site that had been devastated by a fire. And, he knew he had a reliable, skilled workforce at his disposal. The end result — Everlast Roofing has enjoyed 15 to 20% growth every year over the past four years. In summer 2016, the company built a 60-by-140 ft. storage building to keep up with demands, and could be expanding the facility in 2017. “We’re growing by leaps and bounds,” said Eastman, who is general manager of Everlast Roofing’s Northeast operation. “Our company, as a whole when I started Everlast in 1998, we had five employees in the whole company. Now, we have 174 LEE EASTMAN displays samples of Everlast Roofing at with four plants — Lebanon, his South High Street location in Bridgton. (Rivet Photo) Pa., Howe, Ind., Bridgton and Orwell, Ohio — in the
United States,” Eastman said. “When we first started, we were lucky to ship a couple of tons out of here (Bridgton). At the end of this year (2016), we’ll have shipped close to 2,000 tons.” Everlast Roofing is tucked away off South High Street, adjacent to the Congregational Church. One only sees a long roadway and a sign. “No one sees us. People come up here looking for a job and think they’ll find this tiny little spot. Then, they say, ‘I didn’t know what you did here.’ When I had a Chamber open house a couple three years ago, people told me they had no idea what this place was,” Eastman said. “It’s growing.” Locally, Everlast Roofing employees 35 on site — 26 to 27 make up the manufacturing workforce, while the remaining workers are truck drivers, outside sales and office staff. Production has been so good that another trim machine was scheduled to be added in late 2016, which will double Everlast’s capacity to make trim. EVERLAST, Page 3A
Marina expands off Route 11 By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Because Route 11 is such a major thoroughfare, most people have noticed that trees have been cleared from a section of land on the Naples end. In the near future, a portion of the property will be used as a boat display area for the Causeway Marina. The plan includes putting in storm-water retention areas — some of which have already been completed, planting vegetation and Arborvitae trees as buffer zones, and possibly wiring electricity to an existing utility pole for security lighting.
Causeway Marina owner Dan Allen and civil engineer Dustin Roma brought the plans to the Naples Planning Board during its Dec. 20 meeting. “The purpose of that space is to locate inventory and display boats for sale along Route 11,” Roma said. Basically, the Causeway Marina business owners were seeking permission from the board to clear stumps and maintain the grade of the terrain. The stump-clearing would allow crews to plant new vegetation. The major site plan, which was approved by the board on Dec. 20, expands
the gravel area from 15,000 to 39,000 square feet. This action will also require permitting from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). According to Roma, the entire property is 8½ acres with 270 feet of frontage on Route 302. However, Route 11 will be used as the entrance. The vast majority of the property is zoned for commercial use with the exception being a small section in the far corner, which is zoned rural and is not slated for any business activity, Roma said. “In early November, we hired a land surveyor to flag the area property lines. Once
flagged, we walked the site with a timber harvester (who) cut trees on the property,” he said. According to Allen, there are no current plans for a building on the land — just boats. The land will be used “to display new product along Route 11,” he said. “We may ask (Central Maine Power) CMP to put a light in. At some point, we’ll want a sign but not until it is established,” Allen said, responding to questions from the planning board. “We don’t know what we want yet, that is the true MARINA, Page 4A
Tyler Judyski
Robert ‘Dalton’ Parker
Chase ends, but driver later hits cruiser FRYEBURG — A Fryeburg man faces multiple charges following a high-speed chase and a later collision with a county deputy’s cruiser last Friday. At about 10:30 p.m., Fryeburg Police stopped a dark colored Subaru Outback on River Road in Fryeburg. The reason for the stop was due to a suspicious activity complaint at the Irving Lil Mart parking lot and for failing to signal a turn. The vehicle was being operated by Robert “Dalton” Parker, 23, of Fryeburg. Passengers included Tyler Judyski, 28, also of Fryeburg and a 19-year-old female from Standish. Parker was found to have a suspended driver’s license at the time of the stop and a second Fryeburg officer arrived to assist. As the officers were attempting to issue Parker a ticket for the traffic violation, he reportedly sped off, causing the officers to jump away from the fleeing vehicle to avoid injury, according to Fryeburg Police Chief Joshua Potvin. Fryeburg Police pursued the vehicle into New Hampshire at speeds over 90 miles per hour and discontinued the pursuit on West Fryeburg Road for safety reasons. An assisting Oxford County deputy located the vehicle on Intervale Drive in Fryeburg, and his cruiser was rammed by the suspect’s vehicle. Pursuit of the suspect vehicle resumed toward Stow on Green Hill Road and down an unnamed dirt road, where the suspects were CHASE, Page 4A
The Bridgton News Established 1870
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