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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 149, No. 3
20 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
January 18, 2018
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 5B
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
After 31 years, Lucille Griffin passes the deputy clerk torch By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — Lucille Griffin had enough skills on her job application to be hired for a part-time position in the 1980s. A few characteristics — other than knowing where things are in the office and how to use them – factored into Griffin landing the fulltime position as Casco deputy clerk in March 1987. According to her boss of 31 years, Griffin is always kind to the residents who come into the town hall. Another plus has been Griffin’s strong roots in Casco. “It has been helpful to have somebody who actually grew up here and lived here,” Casco Town Manager Dave Morton said. “She has a lot of history in the town. She knew a lot of people and that helped
What: Retirement Celebration Party for out-going Town of Casco Deputy Clerk Lucille Griffin Where: Casco Community Center, 940 Meadow Road (off Route 121 in Casco Village) When: Thursday, Jan. 25, 6 to 8 p.m. Snow date: Friday, Jan. 26, 6 to 8 p.m. The public is welcome make people comfortable coming in, seeing a face they recognized,” he said. “She is quite compassionate dealing with folks; she very much wants to help people. That was typical of her work. She had it in her mind to help folks,” he said. She was an excellent employee to have interacting with the public, Morton
said. Griffin “retired” on the last Friday of December. The flyers for her retirement celebration party have been tacked on bulletin boards and also posted on Facebook by the Casco Recreation Department. It takes place next Thursday, Jan. 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Casco Community Center. Despite those facts — a retirement behind her and a party coming up — Lucille is still been a presence at the town office for the past couple weeks. It is a transitional period for her. On Tuesday, there were bags of personal items leaning against the wall of the room she still referring to as “my office.” That afternoon, she was answering questions from staff at the front counter. According to Griffin, one absolute RETIRES, Page 10A
OUTGOING DEPUTY CLERK LUCILLE GRIFFIN and Casco Town Manager Dave Morton have worked together in three different town offices over the past 30-plus years. Griffin has retired; and a retirement celebration party is being held for her on Jan. 25. (De Busk Photo)
Dam leak to be fixed in spring Town seeks heating savings
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — Damn the things that do not get fixed or done before winter. Damn ‘em and put ‘em on the springtime to-do list. It is apparent that weather and other circumstances have forced the Town of Casco to wait until spring to address the current infrastructure projects that were funded by taking out a bond. Yes, the Pleasant LakeParker Pond Dam still has a leak, according to Casco Town Manager Dave Morton. The leak was discovered but
not resolved prior to the snow and cold setting in, he said. The good news is two-fold 1.) the leak is not worrisome and 2.) it will be fixed as soon as the weather permits, he said. “The leak is at the far north of the dam. Unfortunately, where the water runs during the winter masks where the leak is. The concern isn’t that the leak is significant. It is when there is a leak, it tends to get worse,” Morton said. “We want the dam to start out with good integrity,” Morton said, adding that the contractor will follow
through with repairs when the fair weather arrives. The Casco Board of Selectmen reviewed the costs and the status of the projects being completed using bond money. The bond, which totals $2.5 million, was approved at the 2016 Annual Town Meeting. As of December 2017, the town has spent $839,252 of the bond on its financial obligation for the dam and on two town roads. However, that number is low because the total costs on all three capital improvement projects cannot be calculated
until work is completed this spring, Morton said. Selectman Grant Plummer asked that the items be on the agenda again this spring so the board could discuss the status and the final costs. Besides the dam, the other active projects are: road rebuilding and paving on Edwards Road and Johnson Hill Road. Both roads will need a final coat of paving this spring, Morton said. That paving schedule will be lined up once the frost is gone, he said. DAM, Page 10A
MAUTHAUSEN Concentration Camp was built in 1938 after the Austrian Anschluss. Almost 190,000 prisoners were sent to Mauthausen and thousands died from starvation, over work and disease. (Photo by Allen Crabtree)
It couldn’t happen here?
solidiating the buildings (heating-fuel suppliers) as well,” Chairman Jim Grattelo said prior to the board’s nod of approval. The timing is spot on. Today (Thursday) is the first meeting of the Naples Budget Committee, during which time it will review and prepare the 2018-19 budget. The budget committee meets today, starting at 5 p.m. at the Naples Town Hall. What better time than the present to plug in some numbers for the upcoming year’s heatingfuel costs. And, it is already being done. Berkowitz brought up the current status of the town’s heating arrangements during a recent selectmen’s meeting. The issue was that the town’s heating-fuel contracts have not been revised or renegotatiated for years, he told the board. Another sitation that could be improved upon is that various companies service different town-owned buildings. Berkowitz updated the board on what staff has been doing to improve its heating costs — now and in the future. “We are contacting the different companies in Naples to determine who has the best price. Ten days payment is SAVINGS, Page 2A
Community H.E.L.P. closing
A cautionary musing Editor’s note: While visiting Germany, local hiking columnist Allen Crabtree of Sebago scrapped his usual happy column about tramping the hills and instead wrote about the parallels between the rise of Hitler and National Socialists to power in the 1930s and issues facing America today By Allen Crabtree The Nazis portrayed in movies are always the ultimate bad guys, the evil force that nearly took over the world during World War II. But before they had one of the strongest armies on the planet, before the holocaust and unimaginable numbers of dead in concentration camps, there was a period where the Nazis (National-Socialist German Workers’ Party) and Adolph Hitler used the democratic process to achieve power in Germany. On my trip to Germany and Austria this time, I spent some time trying to comprehend how Hitler and the National Socialists gained absolute power. At first, Hitler had only a handful of supporters and no organization, no wealth, and no power. He had spent four years in the German Army in the trenches of the western front, and had no profession other than a desire to be an architect and painter. What Hitler did have, however, was an innate ability to identify the mood of the public and to verbalize their real and imagined issues. I visited the Nazi Documentation Centers in Munich and in the mountains above Berchtesgaden, as well as at the Dachau and Mauthausen Concentration Camps, where Hitler’s early days and rise to power are detailed. He built
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES – As it stands, the Town of Naples has had no problem getting heating fuel from its providers. After all, the town is a long-standing customer and pays its bills on time. Because the town-owned buildings are on the regular customer list there have been no worries about tanks running low. However, as part of its budgetary housekeeping, the town will attempt to consolidate its fuel suppliers and see if it is possible to get a lower price. Even at this late date in the winter, saving a few pennies to a dime on the per unit cost by agreeing to pay each fuel bill within 10 days will definitely make a difference, Naples Iterim Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz said. It’s more likely that the town can get ahead of next winter’s heating fuel prices by lining up contracts in the early summer, Berkowitz said. The Naples Board of Selectmen gave the Interim Town Manager the authority to contact fuel suppliers and see if a money-saving arrangement is doable this winter. “We are giving you the direction to get the best price for the town and con-
AN EARLY PROPAGANDA POSTER showing Hitler as the promised leader of a new Germany. Photo taken at the Obersalzberg Documentation Center. (Photo by Allen Crabtree) his organization and achieved absolute power by exploiting the “perfect storm” of political, economic and social issues facing Germany at the time. These same issues are chillingly similar to many that challenge today’s Europe and America. The Nazi Documentation Centers also examine the disturbing rise of far-right radical elements in Europe today and draw similarities to what happened in the 1930s. I am very concerned that something similar to National Socialism, perhaps in the guise of “populism” or “nationalism” could happen again today if the world is not diligent. Outside pressures Hitler was a very powerful speaker and developed the power of propaganda to a new level. He was quick to fault the foreign treaties that put Germany at a disadvantage after losing World War I. Germany was burdened under the very harsh conditions of the Versailles Treaty and the obligations of the Reparations Commission imposed on it by France and the victorious western allies. The treaty HAPPEN HERE?, Page 3A
Monday was a very sad day at Community H.E.L.P. says director and founder Patti Wininger. Community H.E.L.P. must vacate the premises on Nulty Street, which has been the store’s location for the past six years, within 90 days. “In those six years, Community H.E.L.P. has helped over 500 families,” Wininger said. A nonprofit, Community H.E.L.P. assisted the local community by giving clothing to those who qualify based on HUD income guidelines (low income in Bridgton for a family of four — $58,000).
Community H.E.L.P. is funded in part by cash donations, but mostly in goods that are sold in the store. “Without this store, those in need will no longer have a place to obtain much-needed clothing and household goods,” Wininger added. “We will no longer be able to accept donations, and will be selling everything in the store for half price. We are down, but not out! We plan on using any funds raised from the sale of goods to rent/purchase a new facility. Thank you to all of those in the community who have helped and supported us over the years.”
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