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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 150, No. 2
16 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
January 10, 2019
(USPS 065-020)
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Land bought for WW project
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Another piece of the wastewater system expansion puzzle has been put into place. Following an executive session Tuesday night, selectmen voted to purchase a 21.60-acre parcel located behind the nursing home (Bella Point) on Portland Road. The negotiated price is $55,000 to Bridgton Health Care Associates. Town Manager Robert Peabody said three potential sites for the wastewater system had been identified, and the one purchased met size and soil specifications. In other meeting notes, Give the people what they voted for. Colin Dinsmore of HEB Engineering heard the message loud and clear when
it comes to what selectmen expect to see as part of the streetscape project. Selectmen voiced displeasure with some changes made to the plan, such as dumping the use of color or accents as part of concrete work in favor of the “standard gray.” Dinsmore said the concrete would be “scored” to create decorative patterns and “break up the appearance” and not “stamped.” After selectmen pushed to stick with the plan that voters agreed to support (meaning color is back in the picture), Dinsmore agreed to hold three meetings with officials to discuss project
particulars before the package goes out to bid. “We want just to get it right,” Board chairman Lee Eastman added. Officials were happy to see an actual graphic of an existing light post compared to new posts (that graphic can be seen on the town’s website). State roadwork. Town officials were notified by the Maine Department of Transportation that it will resurface portions of Route 302. The project begins .10 miles east of Route 35 in Naples and extends 7.19 miles to Route 117 in Bridgton. The project goes out to bid in March.
Once resurfaced, motorists will be happy to learn that it will hopefully stay smooth for the next three years. MDOT says no permit to open this segment of highway will be granted for a period of three years with very limited exceptions. Officer resigns. Bridgton Police is losing one of its veteran officers. Officer Donald “Mac” McCormick has resigned from the BPD effective Jan. 17. He had been a member of the BPD for the past 12 years (previously, he worked two years in Bethel). He is moving on to the Oxford County Sheriff ’s Department. “We thank him for his service to the town and wish him the best with his new endeavor,” Town Manager Robert Peabody wrote in his SELECTMEN, Page 2A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The weather did a number on the concrete sealer that was applied to the boardwalks on the Causeway in the late fall. The very product that was designed to protect the concrete from damage has started to peel off in various-sized chips. It snowed in October after the sealer had been
applied to the sidewalk surface. Then, there was a warming spell in November, which caused the snow to melt. Residents who walk along the boardwalk noticed that it was peeling. Someone took photos and shared those on the Remembering Naples Maine group Facebook page. Naples Board of Selectmen Chairman Jim Grattelo said that
the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been contacted about potential environmental issues from the paint chips. “They said that we are fine. They know that we are addressing it. We recognize that there is an issue” with the product peeling, he said. “We have been told that it is not toxic. It is latex-based. There would
be more problems if we start to remove” the sealer, Grattelo said. Grattelo’s concern is that the project should have been put out to bid, considering the cost involved. In October, the Town of Naples spent $100,000 on the sealant and the labor to remedy winter-time damage to the concrete walkways. (This money had been set aside during the SEALER, Page 8A
Bridgton Selectmen
Company addresses peeling sealer
PEDAL TO THE METAL — Longtime seamstress PATCHWORK PIECE MAKERS member Theo Ross Barbara Godwin sits at the sewing machine and stitches works on a quilt in the basement of the Harrison United fabric that will become a quilt. She joined Patchwork Piece Makers 18 months ago. (De Busk Photos) Parish Congregational Church.
Creating comfort for kids Quilt group stitching strong as ever
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer HARRISON — The quilters might not ever meet the children who admire the colors, run their fingers over the patterns, and warm themselves with the quilts. Still, the women who belong to the Harrison-based Patchwork Piece Makers quilting group keep meeting every Wednesday for a few hours. They keep on selecting patterns and designs, measuring and cutting material. They continue to create quilts. It has been 19 years since the group started making and donating quilts to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland. They meet as much for the unknown children at the hospital as they do for familiar friendship of the other women in the group. “I do this for the fellowship and for the satisfaction that the quilts are going to the kids. We are providing cuddly things
to the sick children,” Joanne Bulla said. Iris White agreed. “It is the comradery with my friends. I love being with these women,” White said. “Also, it is where they are going — to the children. I feel like I am doing something worthwhile.” Currently, the Patchwork Piece Makers have a stash of about 75 quilts to be delivered to the hospital. In early December, the women displayed the quilts during Christmas in Harrison. Since then, they have added a few more quilts to the batch. A woman, who works as neonatal nurse at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, picks up the quilts and brings them to the hospital. The quilting group has heard kind comments from the hospital staff, according to Sheila Baxter. “We met a couple of the families the times we have been down there. We have a letter from one of them. It was emotional for all of us,” Baxter said. Most of the time, the quilters do not
meet the children. Likewise, the young patients do not meet the women who sewed the quilts. “They just know it was a quilter who donated it,” she said. Baxter is not a quilter. She used to operate the Harrison House B&B; and the quilting group met in its large, well-lit breakfast room. Baxter refers to herself as the runner. Donating the quilts “gives comfort not only to the kids but also the parents. We hear comments from the nurses. We would hear how much the family appreciates it. It gives them comfort to see the child wrapped up in a handmade quilt,” Baxter said. “Someone did a quilt with skateboarders on it. One of the kids who was there was nine years old and loved skateboarders. The staff dug through the bag to find it. He was sick as a dog, but he was overjoyed with the quilt,” she said. Other popular themes include Harry QUILTS, Page 8A
NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR for Loon Echo Land Trust is Matt Markot (left), who takes over the helm from Thom Perkins, who retired.
New director for Loon Echo
Loon Echo Land Trust has a new leader entering the New Year, 2019. LELT welcomed Matt Markot as its new executive director on Monday, Jan. 7. Markot, who resides in Harrison, takes the lead for the conservation organization from retiring Executive Director Thom Perkins. Most recently, Markot worked for LELT supporting the organization’s stewardship and conservation easement programs, in addition to organizing the 2018 Loon Echo Trek. He also worked as a part-time consultant through Sebago Clean Waters to support both Loon Echo and Western Foothills Land Trusts with their conservation efforts. “Our board is thrilled to have Matt lead Loon Echo and we are looking forward to working with him to continue the positive impact that Loon Echo has on our community,” said Loon Echo Board President, David Diller, as he welcomed Markot to his new role at the organization. Markot brings a wealth of natural resource, conservation, and environmental education experience from years working around the state of Maine at places such as the Nature Conservancy, the Maine Natural Areas Program, and Kieve-Wavus Education Inc. Markot has strong family ties to the Bridgton area and grew up spending his summers on the shores of Moose Pond. A Registered Maine Guide and Wilderness First Responder, Markot enjoys skiing, hiking, camping and fishing. “I’m humbled by the opportunity to step into a new role in an organization that I have great respect for,” Markot said upon starting his first week as executive director. “The passion that Loon Echo’s board, staff, members, and volunteers bring to conservation work in our region inspires me to lead by their example. I intend to build upon Loon Echo’s strengths while keeping sight of the traditions that make protected land so integral to our way of life in the Lake Region.” Markot succeeds Thom Perkins, Loon Echo’s executive director from 2016-2018. Perkins will support the leadership transition by acting as senior advisor to the organization until the end of March. He will be assisting Markot in organizational management during the transition. During his tenure, Perkins finalized the organization’s Land Trust Alliance national accreditation, negotiated the donation of land for a new preserve on Highland Lake, negotiated and developed donated land for recreational access to Pleasant Mountain, acquired the technological tools needed to position the organization for the future, spearheaded additional conservation easement land, increased the capacity of the organization by increasing staff in mission critical areas, was instrumental in developing an organization to protect the region’s clean water and laid the groundwork for additional Loon Echo Land Trust conservation efforts. “I am more than pleased that the board of directors selected Matt. I can’t think of a better candidate to take over this position and move Loon Echo into the future,” said Perkins, “there are a lot of exciting plans in the works and Matt’s the perfect person to press onwards.” Loon Echo Land Trust will host a snowshoe walk of their latest project, Peabody-Fitch Woods on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. The public will have an opportunity to meet the new executive director, explore the property and learn more about the project. More information on this event can be found at Loon Echo’s website, www. lelt.org Loon Echo Land Trust protects nearly 6,700 acres of land and manages 30 miles of multi-use trails in the northern Sebago Lake region. Its mission is to work with the local residents to conserve the region’s natural resources and character for current and future generations. Loon Echo serves seven towns including Bridgton, Casco, Denmark, Harrison, Naples, Raymond and Sebago. Loon Echo works within its service area to safeguard water quality, preserve scenic locations such as Bald Pate Mountain, Pleasant Mountain and Hacker’s Hill, and provide fun educational programs to the public. Loon Echo also assists landowners to take steps to ensure future generations will benefit from the preservation of their lands.
The Bridgton News Established 1870
P.O. Box 244, 118 Main St. Bridgton, ME 04009 207-647-2851 Fax: 207-647-5001 bnews@roadrunner.com