Dogs take center stage Bridgton’s Winter Carnival is this weekend, and the Mushers Bowl highlights the two-day event Page 11A
Celebration of Life
Inside News
Friends held a special day for Martha Flint, 75, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer
Calendar. . . . . . . . . . .9A Classifieds . . . . . . . . 7B Country Living . . . . . .7A
Page 2A
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www.bridgton.com Vol. 142, No. 3
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. 24 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
January 20, 2011
(USPS 065-020)
SIXTY CENTS
Fast food and big box
Citizens gear up for March referendum
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer A Bridgton citizens group is holding weekly strategy sessions over the next six weeks to build support for a March 1 referendum that may stop the alreadyapproved McDonald’s Restaurant project in its tracks — and prevent any new big box store or chain restaurant developments in the future. George Bradt, a Bridgton resident who has helped Scott Finlayson and others with the successful petition drive that is forcing the referendum vote, said he expects around 50 people to attend the first meeting in the series, which will be held tonight at 7 p.m. in the basement of the Bridgton Municipal Complex, entering on Iredale Street. “Obviously there’s a groundswell here,” Bradt said, referring to the nearly 300 resi-
dents who signed two petitions that would ban traditionally-defined formula restaurants in Bridgton and limit the size of retail developments to 30,000 square feet. “We need to roll up our sleeves and get to work” to discuss amending the town’s Site Plan Review Ordinance for the long term, regardless of the outcome on March 1, he said. Future meetings of the citizen’s group are planned at the same time and place for Jan. 27, as well as Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24. He said representatives from the citizen’s group will be attending meetings of the selectmen, the planning board and the town’s Economic Development Committee to further the goal of amending Bridgton’s Site Plan Review Ordinance in the long term. Meanwhile, and separate to the citizen
effort, the selectmen and the planning board will be holding a public hearing on both petitions on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m., as required by state law governing citizen initiatives. Town officials have said that it would be inappropriate for the town to begin reviewing long-term amendments until voters have spoken on March 1. Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz, when asked Tuesday if a yes vote on the amendments on March 1 would kill the McDonald’s project planned for Portland Road, said “It’s very possible that it could.” That’s because both petitions stated that the amendments would apply to all projects that were pending as of Dec. 1, 2010 — and the McDonald’s project wasn’t formally approved until January. “The issue of retroactivity comes into CITIZENS, Page 5A
Sprinklers part of building plan?
By Lisa Williams Ackley Staff Writer The Bridgton Board of Selectmen met with some of the Bridgton Planning Board members last week to discuss the issue of sprinkler systems and at what point they may be required in subdivisions and possibly other residential construction in town. Planning Board Chairman Donald “Steve” Collins said that a couple of years ago the selectmen organized a few workshops specifically to discuss residential sprinkler systems and whether or not the town would come up with its
own regulations for them. “At that time, the State Fire Marshal’s Office said it would formulate a set of standards (for statewide use),” Collins stated, “and we said, ‘Why are we wasting our breath?’ But then, the bottom fell out of the (real estate) market and we (the planning board) haven’t heard from any subdivisions (developers) since. Now, the (Bridgton) fire chief said the State (Fire Marshal’s Office) has pulled back on (formulating the sprinkler regulations).” Collins told the selectmen he would like them to “orga-
nize some format like that” — the former workshop approach — that would include the selectmen, planning board, fire department and members of the public. “I really think it will be a great help to the town and developers,” Collins stated. Fire Chief Glen Garland explained that the State of Maine has adopted the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC), but excluded the section dealing with sprinkler systems. “The 2009 IRC adopted by the state has the entire sprinkler system code in it,” Chief
Garland said, “but when it went to the state for adoption, they said they were taking the rest (of the codes and adopting them) but were putting this one (relating to sprinkler systems) aside, and they can’t put it back in (the adopted code) for three years. They may come back in three years and say, ‘We’re going to put this back in, due to this, this and this.’” “The state would probably adopt (the sprinkler system regulation), in 2013,” Chief Garland said further. “As Steve said, this issue was brought SPRINKLER, Page 5A
CHILL FOR A GOOD CAUSE — The annual Freezing for a Reason, a benefit for Harvest Hills Animal Shelter, is this Saturday, Jan. 22 at 1 p.m. at Bridgton’s Highland Lake.
Dip is for you, Fido & Ms. Kitty!
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer A love for animals was the push that Limerick resident Genie Blodgett needed to jump into Highland Lake in the middle of January two years ago. “Everything you do matters, whether it’s doing this polar dip, or cleaning a litter box, or volunteering at an animal shelter and cleaning the dogs’ pens. Nothing you do for an animal is too little for them. They are so appreciative and full of unconditional love,” Blodgett said. The primary fundraiser for Harvest Hills Animal Shelter (HHAS), the “Freezin’ for a Reason” polar dip, takes place at 1 p.m. this Saturday at Highland Lake Park. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., and pre-registered people are encouraged to show up by
Nothing you do for an animal is too little for them
— Genie Blodgett
12:30 p.m. to get paperwork in order before jumptime. Blodgett said her “Freezin’ for a Reason” experiences keep getting better. In recent weeks, her excitement level about doing the dip has been building to tsunami proportions. “The first time, I was really nervous because I’m not a big water person and it was so cold that day. It actually went really well. I raised a few dollars, and felt really FREEZIN, Page 12A
Kent’s Landing tenant gets boot
FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR — Rick Paraschak stands in front of a ladder truck in the Naples Fire and Rescue Department’s garage. He received the 2010 Firefighter of the Year award. (De Busk Photo)
Being fireman not in plan, but... By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES – Almost 20 years ago, Rick Paraschak earned his Emergency Medical Technician certificate and began volunteering for the Naples Fire and Rescue Department (NFRD). Last month during an annual dinner, Paraschak received the “Firefighter of The Year” award in acknowledgement of his accomplishments with his hometown fire department. Eighteen years ago, the engineer with the state transportation department was married and raising a family. His then-wife was very active with her EMT work. In addition, the couple’s neighbors were also EMTs. It
seemed like a good move to join the EMT club, especially since the group already had many of the same interests and enjoyed doing things together, he said. “I guess you could say my ex-wife led me toward this field,” Paraschak said. The Paraschaks have two children — a son and a daughter. So, Rick’s volunteer work (over the years) has also included Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. What most prompted him to sit through that first EMT course “was the desire to do community service, and the wanting to do and give back to the community,” he said. His certificate requires an
update every three years. On a weekly basis, he volunteers about 10 hours. “Once I realized I could help the community through volunteering for the fire department, I gained that passion for being an emergency rescue person, and, then, a firefighter. I didn’t grow up wanting to be a fireman,” he said. Trained to handle emergency situations — and having an aptitude for that type of work — Paraschak entered into a community of men and women who volunteer for their local fire department. It is a family of people Paraschak is proud to be included in. Through the NFRD, he’s had a chance to
utilize his skills and talents — doing things he enjoys like fundraising events to benefit the department. The third-generation Ukrainian (both grandmothers came to America through Ellis Island) said fundraisers make him proud to live in Naples. He values the supportive relationship between the residents and the fire and rescue volunteers. “During our Christmas tree fund-raiser, many people in the community decide they need to buy a tree for Christmas, and they would make a point to buy one from us. There is camaraderie between the residents and the fire department that I see FIREMAN, Page 3A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The Cumberland Country Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 7 served an eviction notice to the tenant living at Kent’s Landing — which is now owned by the town, according to Naples Town Manager Derik Goodine. Kenneth Burnham Sr. has a deadline of Feb. 6 to vacate the premises, where he has been residing since approximately 2006. He owns the trailer in which he was living; and it is Burnham’s responsibility to remove the trailer from the property, Goodine said. Kent’s Landing, which has waterfront access to Long Lake, is adjacent to the Naples Town Beach. As the new property owner of Kent’s Landing, the town has
public-supported plans for the parcel. However, just because the property is town-owned does not mean it is “open to the public” just yet, according to Goodine. The newly-acquired parcel will most likely be fenced off during the Naples Winter Carnival, which is scheduled to run Feb. 11 through 13, Goodine said. “I am going to try to set up fencing between there (the ramp) and Kent’s Landing if I can get the darn stakes in the frozen ground,” he said, adding a few more feet of snow would help hold up the poles for the temporary fencing. In preparation for the winter carnival, a ramp will be put in place at the end of the beach TENANT, Page 3A
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