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www.bridgton.com Vol. 144, No. 4
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. 24 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
January 24, 2013
(USPS 065-020)
SIXTY CENTS
Board rejects fire inspector By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer After months of wrangling and a reversal on a legal opinion, Bridgton’s Board of Selectmen finally decided Tuesday not to hire a new fire inspector. Instead, the board voted 50 to give member Doug Taft’s suggestion a try, and see if there is anyone currently on the ranks of the 62-member Bridgton Fire Department willing to assume the responsibilities of the job. “I’ve gone over this and over this and over this, and I just cannot in my good conscience justify this (fire inspector) position,” Taft said. He doesn’t see why someone with the department wouldn’t be willing or able to undergo the initial training and then take on the part time, 10-12 hour-a-week position — espePROUD MOMENT — Steven Andrews of Harrison had tears in his eyes as he looked at his wife, Lori, after accepting the cially providing they’d be paid Purple Heart — the most recognized and respected medal awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces — from U.S. Senator $16 an hour. Susan Collins (left) and Colonel John Jansen during a ceremony at the Ronald G. St. John VFW Post 9328. (Rivet Photo)
In making its decision, the board overruled the opinion of Fire Chief Glen Garland, who said he had “very grave concerns” about his department’s ability of “doing anything more than what we’re doing now, which is answering complaints.” Both Garland and Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz believe strongly that if Bridgton is to continue with its volunteer call department, it needs an experienced, trained fire inspector to assist the fire chief in the myriad of ongoing administrative tasks faced by a town of its size. “I don’t see where that time is coming from,” Garland said. “My guys are stretched to the limits (with existing trainings) . . . and they have their own lives.” Garland, who is paid a stipend of $11,068 a year based on a 15hour work week, also works for INSPECTOR, Page 12A
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer A plan to fix a major source of pollution runoff on the Moose Pond Causeway may invite increased use of the problem area by the boating public, even though the Causeway is a no-parking zone, Bridgton selectmen said Tuesday. Selectmen agreed, however, that remediation work is long overdue at the locally-used carry-on path, located on the west side of Sabattus Island on the Route 302 Causeway. It remained unclear Tuesday whether the town or the Maine Department of Transportation has jurisdiction over the site. Public Works Director Jim
Kidder said the erosion site is located in the state’s right-ofway, but that the town maintains it for use by West Bridgton residents. A representative from the Moose Pond Association said MDOT does not want to be involved in the project. Selectman Doug Taft said people still park on the Causeway, mostly near the regular boat launch on the east side, but that the town wants to limit too much parking or it could become a “dangerous situation.” The board suggested that the Moose Pond Association work on the erosion plan with state transportation officials, and if RIPRAP, Page A
Riprap raises Steven Andrews receives ‘Purple Heart’ access concerns
An honor long overdue
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer HARRISON — Steven Andrews has faced two major battles in his lifetime. As a young man, he was drafted into the Army and was wounded in action in Vietnam. As a 66-year-old, Steve is slowly recovering from a battle with a brain tumor. Two chapters of his life collided last week when Steve was presented the Purple Heart by U.S. Senator Susan Collins and Maine National Guard Chief of Staff Col. John Jansen at a ceremony held at the Ronald G. St. John VFW Post 9328 in Harrison. “It’s special. It’s long overdue,” Col. Jansen said. Forty-six years had passed since a young Steve Andrews was wounded and no rec-
ognition of that sacrifice had been made. Until, a brain tumor struck and started the ball rolling to correct the oversight. The first sign of trouble was Steve started to forget “simple daily things.” “He would get up in the middle of the night and we thought he was sleep walking. He couldn’t find his way back to bed,” said his wife, Lori. “He worked for the school district, and Andy Madura (who is in charge of buildings and grounds at SAD 61) told me something wasn’t right with Steve. He wasn’t understanding what Andy was telling him.” At first, Steve agreed to see a doctor. Then, he felt nothing was wrong — until he tried to fill out a time sheet, and couldn’t. Steve saw a neurologist, who ordered a MRI. He had an X-ray first, which revealed a brain tumor. Surgeons would remove
part of Steve’s brain in May 2011, which resulted in memory loss. A month after surgery, Steve could not remember who Lori was, at times. He experienced hallucinations, which included seeing snipers in the nearby woods. In hopes of improving his overall condition, Steve was placed in a rehab center in Eppingham, N.H. There, Steve is undergoing therapy so he can again make decisions for himself. Steve has made progress, and Lori is hopeful that the Veterans’ Administration will award the family funding to hire a “companion,” who can oversee and work with Steve in his home. At the moment, Steve makes occasional trips home. “I know that I will not get Steve, the guy I married back, but I remain hopeful that even if he is a little different, I get Steve HONOR, Page A
Couple escape ‘Sandy,’ trying to rebuild their lives
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer FRYEBURG — As a commercial comic book artist, Jymn Woodward spends his days taking words from a script and drawing characters and scenes to create a pageturner for loyal fans.
Storylines often take unexpected twists and turns. Woodward, however, found himself caught up in his own real-life, perilous adventure. He and his wife, Monica, lost everything when Hurricane Sandy unloaded on New York. Jymn married Monica last
Missing teen found A teen reported missing Tuesday afternoon has been found. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office located Michael Pendexter, 16, in the Harrison area at about 8 a.m. Wednesday. The 16-year-old juvenile left the Spurwink House in Casco voluntarily on Tuesday at about 2:02 p.m. Pendexter was last seen walking near the intersection of Route 121 and Route 11, when he ran into the woods while being followed by staff members. An exhaustive search of the area by Sheriff’s Deputies, Maine State Police, and the Maine Warden Service failed to locate him. However, officials believed that Pendexter may have been picked up by a passing vehicle while hitchhiking and could possibly be traveling
Michael Pendexter to Portland. Once located in Harrison, Pendexter was returned to the Spurwink House. “We would like to thank our concerned citizens for their continued help regarding this incident,” CCSO officials said.
year and they recently celebrated their first anniversary. However, celebrating is far from their minds right now. They had just moved into their cute house on the point of Long Island called East Atlantic Beach. This was going to be a great move for them because Jymn could now have a work studio at home instead of paying high rent for an office space in the city. They had not even finished unpacking all their boxes when Storm Sandy hit. They were told that it would not be necessary to evacuate as their area was not in target for the big hit. Then, a really unexpected thing happened. A northeaster cold front came in at the exact point of impact to the coastline creating “the perfect storm.” It took everybody by surprise and impacted and devastated areas otherwise considered safe — Jymm and Monica’s house was in that area. “They (weather forecasters) were saying some really scary things about Long Beach, which is a low-lying five-block peninsula. We were in East Atlantic Beach, just a couple of miles away. There were no mandatory evacuations where we were, so we figured we would ride it out,” Jymn said. “Turned out to be far worse than they anticipated.”
Mushers Bowl canceled
COMIC BOOK ILLUSTRATOR J.K. Woodward and his wife, Monica, safely escaped their New York home during Hurricane Sandy, but lost just about everything. The couple are staying with Jymn’s mother, Donna, in Fryeburg until they get back on their feet. A community benefit supper will be held this Saturday at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. Jymn had been living in vision.” Queens, and just had moved a High tide hit. Swells were month before. huge. The lights had just gone “We needed a place for the RELIEF, Page A winter, giving us some time to figure what we wanted to do, whether to stay or move out West. We got a really good Established 1870 seasonal price. We thought we P.O. Box 244, 118 Main St. had hit the jackpot,” he said. Bridgton, ME 04009 “It was nice while we were 207-647-2851 there — until the water came Fax: 207-647-5001 up. We thought we were pretty bnews@roadrunner.com safe because we still had tele-
The Sled Dog/Skijoring Races scheduled this weekend as part of the Mushers Bowl portion of Bridgton’s Winter Carnival have been cancelled. All other events, including dogsled rides on Highland Lake, will go on as scheduled Friday through Sunday, Jan. 25-27, with the exception of a Sunday snowshoe hike up Bald Pate Mountain, according to Jim Mains, executive director of the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce. “It is a blow to our weekend, but there’s just not enough snow. And with the speeds those dogs get up to on the course, it’s just too dangerous to run,” said Mains. Downeast Sled Dog Club members examined the course at Five Fields Farm in South Bridgton last weekend, and decided there just wasn’t sufficient snow pack, Mains said. MUSHERS, Page 12A
The Bridgton News