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Closer to finale Semifinalists emerge in Lake Region’s Got Talent contest; see Sunday who advances Page 7A

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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 148, No. 3

20 PAGES - 2 Sections

Bridgton, Maine

January 19, 2017

(USPS 065-020)

Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 5B

www.bridgton.com

SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS

‘Repeal could be devastating’

GETTING SOME ANSWERS — U.S. Senator Angus King spoke with Bridgton Hospital administrators and physicians regarding the effects of repeal of the Affordable Care Act. (Rivet Photo)

By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Rather than simply listening to politicians talk about what effects repeal of the Affordable Care Act will have on the country, U.S. Senator Angus King returned home to find some answers. One stop was Bridgton Hospital last Friday. Meeting with hospital administrators and physicians, Sen. King started the roundtable discussion with a simple comment, “Tell me what I need to know” about opioids abuse and health insurance coverage. He heard plenty. Dr. Craig Smith said when he arrived here 12 years ago, he was “surprised to see what people were struggling with here,” in terms of drug abuse. Seeing the number of cases grow and grow, Dr. Smith became licensed to treat patients with suboxone. He also added a counseling piece to help patients turn their lives around. “Have you seen successes?” Sen. King asked. Dr. Smith replied, “Absolutely. We’ve seen people go back to work, go back to school. Yes, there can be relapses. But, people get to a place where they don’t want to go back.” One barrier keeping some people from

treatment, Dr. Smith said, is insurance coverage. “Costs of treatment can keep people from coming in. We try to get those with no insurance some coverage, but their perception is that if they can’t pay, they can’t get help,” Dr. Smith said. Three local physicians are working with suboxone, and do have openings. “The real tragedy is that when someone gets to the point they want to get help and they can’t get in,” Sen. King said. Bridgton Hospital Board Chairman Phil Libby never thought he would hear “Maine” and “heroin” used in the same sentence. “That problem wasn’t ours, it was in the big cities,” he said. Sen. King felt there was a stigma about drug users, but today, those entangled by opioid addiction come from all walks of life and all age groups. When Dr. Wenda Saunders started her pediatric practice 25 years ago, Bridgton Hospital had a “low level” of care. Mothers using opioids were sent to bigger hospitals for delivery “because of the monitoring (of babies) and training needed by the nursing staff.” “We felt it was unfair for mothers to not be able to deliver locally,” Dr. Saunders said. Today, mothers using sub-

oxone can deliver at BH. Central Maine Healthcare systemwide, 25 to 30% of babies delivered last year had moms who were using opioids or suboxone, Frum reported. If marijuana is added, the numbers increase further. Finding a “prevention tool” that works is something politicians and law enforcement continue to search for. Dr. Smith said the key still remains early education. “My sense is that people choose to do it (use drugs) the first time, but then they have no chance after,” Sen. King said. Dr. Smith agreed. Drug use “hijacks” brain function, especially decision-making. People no longer think rationally, but focus more on the need (more drugs) right now. “Let me know how I can help,” said Sen. King, who noted he heard the disturbing statistic that a person dies each day due to drug abuse. Conversation then switched to effects of ACA repeal. Early last Thursday morning (2 a.m. to be precise, Sen. King noted), the Senate voted 51-48 to repeal. Sen. Susan Collins voted in favor of repeal, while Sen. King offered an amendment to continue healthcare coverage for workers who work in particularly high-risk industries such as CONCERNS, Page 3A

Disagreement to volunteerism Krieg takes new

By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — There are a number of phrases to describe the unfolding of events for one Naples woman. “Every cloud has a silver lining” or “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” are a couple of sayings that could sum it up. Four months ago, Naples resident Suzanne Deschenes had a negative encounter with a town employee while signing her sons up for Youth Football League at the Plummer Memorial Field. Her complaint turned into an online petition to remove

or discipline the employee, Naples Recreation Director Harvey Price. A few hundred people signed the iPetition and there were more than 80 comments posted. This is something she has not let the Naples Board of Selectmen forget. During the public participation time on Jan. 9, Deschenes expressed her displeasure about a course Price took through the Maine Municipal Association (MMA). After reading a comment posted about Harvey on the iPetition page, she provided what she thought were more appropriate classes

designed to improve skills used in dealing with the public. The positive spin is: Deschenes, a working mom who is raising four children, has decided to volunteer for Naples committees. “The last question I have is about the Naples Recreation and the Land Use committees,” Deschenes said. “I want to get that action going so we could get some good, positive energy in Naples,” she said. According to Naples Town Manager Ephrem Paraschak, a total of almost a half-dozen people have expressed inter-

est in serving on those two committees. Deschenes asked how the town was advertising the openings on these two committees that the board had hoped to start up again — with new mandates. The Naples Land Use Committee met prior to the completion of the Causeway, plus other public property has been acquired since then. The Naples Recreation Committee would most likely be tasked with updating the rules for using recreational areas such as the Town Beach. VOLUNTEERING, Page 6A

Takeout plan tabled By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Marie Kushner was in junior high school when her family moved to a home off Lake House Road in Naples. She remembers getting off the bus with friends and buying candy at the country store located on the Causeway before walking home. Her career choice of engineering forced her to move away from the Lake Region, but she returned to Naples about 15 years ago and is an active member of Naples Main Street. Now, recently laid off from her job, Kushner has a dream of operating a takeout food and catering business out of her home on Long Lake. The home is located next to Long Lake Marina and is set back more than 250 feet from the high water mark. So, the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance does not affect the building, but comes into play with the installation of temporary structures such as picnic tables, canopies for shade or reprieve from the rain and any stage setup for live music. On Tuesday, the Naples Planning Board voted to table approval of her plans with the objective of working with her to get the business off the ground. The vote to table the item was 5-0. Larry Anton and Doug Bogdan were absent from the meeting. This was the second time TABLED, Page 2A

TRUSTING HER TEAMMATES — Flyer and captain Abby Green waits to be caught by her Lake Region cheerleading teammates Kelsey Wight, Emma Fagone, Brooke Chase and Kristen Jackson during a halftime routine in Nutting Gym. Last weekend, the Lakers placed fourth at a competition, and are now getting ready for Regionals set for Saturday, Jan. 28. “The girls are all very excited about our next competition and we are all feeling very confident!” Coach Kaitlyn Hall said. “Regardless of the outcome, Brittany (Coach Perreault) and I are very proud of how far they have come this season!” (Rivet Photo)

planning position By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer As Anne Krieg read an advertisement sent to her to consider, the more she read the more she became intrigued. “I looked into the position and what it entailed and it interested me,” Krieg said. “I have never done regional planning so it’s a good career move for me to have a new challenge, but still apply the skill set I have amassed in the last 25 years!” Krieg is leaving Bridgton LEAVING — Anne as its director of planning, Krieg has accepted a economic and community position in Rockland. development next month to accept the position as director of the Mid-Coast Regional Planning Commission in Rockland. The Mid-Coast Regional Planning Commission (MCRPC) is a nonprofit organization that provides a wide range of land use, transportation and economic planning services to its member communities in Waldo and Knox Counties, Maine. These services may either be at no cost to communities or provided on a contract-for-fee basis, depending on the type and level of service. The service area includes: Appleton, Belfast, Belmont, Brooks, Camden, Cushing, Friendship, Hope, Islesboro, Jackson, Knox, Liberty, Lincolnville, Monroe, Montville, Morrill, North Haven, Northport, Owls Head, Rockland, Rockport, Saint George, Searsmont, South Thomaston, Swanville, Thomaston, Union, Vinalhaven, Waldo, Warren and Washington. The commission has an eight-member executive board. Krieg submitted her letter of resignation to Bridgton Town Manager Robert Peabody Jr. last Wednesday, Jan. 11. “This position relocates me to be closer to my family (Bar Harbor) and offers a new challenge in regional planning,” she wrote in her letter. “It has been overall a positive experience and we have done some great things in Bridgton, and there will be more to come, I am certain. Your support as a manager has been the best I have ever received so please accept my gratitude for your hard work and service. My skills have grown here and I am proud of my service to the community. The department heads here also are the best I have ever worked with and I will miss them immensely.” Krieg plans to outline work she expects to complete before moving on. Her start date with the Mid-Coast Commission is Feb. 21. “I asked for a lengthy time to commence my new position so I could prepare the office adequately for the next director here,” she wrote. “I will also prepare a project list with tasks to be done after I leave.” Manager Peabody praised Krieg’s work since she became the town’s planner back in 2012. “I believe the town was fortunate to find an individual having expertise in all three. Of the three, economic development is the hardest to measure success as one’s efforts KRIEG, Page 10A

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


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