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Lake Region inducts its newest members, and there is one surprise announcement
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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 146, No. 6
24 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
February 5, 2015
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
SAD 61 drops Grade 5 move
Electric car charger to be unveiled By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — Are you ready to plug into a greener era in motor vehicle history? Casco sure is. This winter, the Town of Casco installed an electric car charger behind the Casco Community Center. This charger will open the doors for people who choose to drive an electric car. In fact, environmentallyminded people might enjoy spending some outdoor recreation time while their electric car is plugged in and charging, according to Casco Energy Committee Chairman Peg Dilley. “In the winter, the Village has an ice skating area, snowshoe trails, cross-country ski trails and ice fishing” spots along Pleasant Lake and Parker Pond, she said. There are more than “36 miles of trails that can be reached from village. The groomed snowmobile trails are reachable in many areas,” Dilley said. She listed Hancock Lumber’s property that the local business has set aside for public access, including Jugtown Forest. Plus, there are trails around Owl Pond that the Casco Open Space Commission has been reviewing for preservation purposes, she said. For people who aren’t in the mood for the great outdoors, the weight room inside the Bushido Karate Dojo and Fitness Center offers an opportunity for an indoor workout while the vehicle is charging, Dilley said. On Wednesday, an official ribbon-cutting ceremony will CHARGER, Page A
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 7B
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Fifth grades will remain in elementary schools this fall. SAD 61 abandoned the idea of moving all fifth graders to Lake Region Middle School as a way to ease overcrowding at Songo Locks School. Last week at a special meeting held in the Great Room at Lake Region Vocational Center, the school board gave thumbs down to the proposal, as well as revisiting redistricting and keeping the “status quo.” So, Superintendent of Schools Alan Smith will now turn his attention to gathering figures on what it would cost
to either place a portable at Songo Locks or build additions onto the Naples elementary school or possibly Crooked River School. Or, even construct a new elementary school? “What was encouraging was the turnout of parents we had for our meetings regarding this subject (moving the fifth grade),” Smith said, “as well as not keeping the status quo.” After introducing the fifth grade plan, school officials held three community forums. Options discussed included: status quo, build onto current facilities, repurpose facilities, redistricting, OPTIONS, Page 12A
New turf fields planned at BA
By Gail Geraghty revitalize and modernize all Staff Writer of the Academy’s athletic Major changes are in store facilities. for two of the athletic fields Eventually, the school at Bridgton Academy. The also plans to construct a all-male one-year prep school new, 16,000-square-foot, has plans to reconstruct its $2.5 million Strength and football and baseball fields Fitness Center adjacent to the using synthetic turf, and fields and make $1 million rotate the configuration of in renovations to the existthe baseball diamond to bet- ing Memorial Gym, but those ter capture sunlight paths. projects were not part of the The project will trans- plans heard Tuesday by the form the football field into Bridgton Planning Board. a 90,000 square-foot multiThe board gave tentative OFF AND RUNNING FULL SPEED — Rumbling down a hill at the starting line, this purpose field with artificial approval for the fields projteam of dogs shift into high gear during the annual Mushers Bowl held Saturday and turf for lacrosse and football, ect, but before construction Sunday at Five Field Orchards in South Bridgton. (Rivet Photo) and a new artificial turf base- can go forward the school ball infield. The school hopes also needs permit approval to have the facilities built and under the state’s Site Location ready for use for the Class of of Development law. The 2016. plans were presented by A $6 million “Rise, Sons of Todd Gammon of Blais Civil Bridgton” capital campaign, Engineers, who said the projthe largest in the Academy’s ect would disturb just under history, was begun last year three acres of the 47-acre to provide financing for the campus in North Bridgton. By Gail Geraghty from the restaurant at the same time. project. The $6 million capiA phosphorus study Staff Writer Turpin said she appreciates the willing- tal campaign aims to fully TURF, Page 12A Bridgton’s McDonald’s restaurant is ness of local businesses like the Bridgton teaming up with teachers at Stevens Brook McDonalds to support the Greenhouse Elementary School to raise funds for the Project, because every little bit helps toward school’s Greenhouse Project, the brainchild an ambitious $30,000 fundraising goal that of Principal Cheryl Turpin. will be supported entirely by donations. The On Thursday, Feb. 12, the restaurant on school hopes to build a large enough greenPortland Road will donate 20% of their food house, perhaps 30’x40’, to hold a classroom sales proceeds to the Greenhouse Project of students at a time. from 5 to 7:30 p.m., when Turpin and six The relatively high price tag for the projStevens Brook Elementary teachers take an ect includes not only the greenhouse building By Gail Geraghty active role in filling orders at the restaurant. itself, but also necessary site work, providing Staff Writer While Turpin greets customers at the door, handicapped access and bringing water to the NAPLES — Only a six SBES teachers will each team up with a structure. year ago, George Vooris crew member to take front counter and driveAround $10,000 has been raised in the could hardly get out of through orders, wipe off tables and return the past few years toward the project, as shown bed. Crippled in all of his trays to the kitchen. The more guests that eat by a mock thermometer stationed inside joints by psoriatic arthriBy Emily Gillette at that time, the more money will be raised. the school. A similar “McTeachers’ Night” tis, a chronic inflammatory Contributing Writer To add to the fun, radio station WHXR was held at Kentucky Fried Chicken to disease, the 56-year-old FRYEBURG — Dan GREENHOUSE, Page A Naples resident had all he Nowell will be taking over the 106.3 FM will be doing a remote broadcast could do to simply walk, roll of Public Works Director let alone run. for the Town of Fryeburg. All that changed, Nowell, who started his however, once he got on new position in early January MaineCare and began of this year, was picked from receiving the medical attenamong a pool of sixteen tion he needed. He started applicants, according to Town walking, and working out Manager Sharon Jackson. at the gym. It wasn’t long George Vooris Nowell has had a history before he was running, and of serving as a public works it felt so good he started entering competitive races. director for not only the His first was at Crystal Lake. Then came the 4 on Town of Paris from January the Fourth, and the Moose Pond Challenge; it got so 2011 to 2014, but also the he couldn’t wait for the next race. Last fall, when he Town of Sebago from 2007 ran in the Dempsey Challenge, a 5K and 10K walk/run to 2011. He also worked with fundraiser to help people stricken with cancer, it seemed the Bridgton Public Works Vooris had found a special calling. Department for nearly 17 That particular race is all about hope for a healing, years. and Vooris could closely identify with its cause. So this Nowell was also a reserve year he’s starting early to raise as much money as he can police officer in the town of for his 10K run. Aided by a cardboard cutout of Patrick Fryeburg during the earlier Dempsey, the celebrity for which the Patrick Dempsey part of the 2000s and was a patrolman in the town of GOOD CAUSE, Page A Bridgton, where he currently resides. Selectmen and Town Manager Jackson congratulated Nowell on his new Established 1870 role and welcomed him to the EEKING AWAY AT IT — From left, SAD 17 School District Assistant Superintendent Deb Howard holds a $3,500 donation check from Berlin City Auto, along with Stevens position. P.O. Box 244, 118 Main St. “We’re still getting settled Brook Elementary School Academic Leader Liz Shane, Grade 4 Teacher Jessica Hunt Bridgton, ME 04009 in,” Nowell said at the January and SBES Principal Cheryl Turpin. The money is part of $10,000 raised to date for 207-647-2851 22 Selectmen’s meeting. He the school’s Greenhouse Project. The next fundraising effort for the project will take Fax: 207-647-5001 place Thursday, Feb. 12, form 5 to 7:30 p.m., when Turpin and six teachers will host a said his first impressions were “McTeachers’ Night” at McDonald’s restaurant on Portland Road in Bridgton. bnews@roadrunner.com “so far, so good.”
Nowell named PWD
McDonald’s, SBES to team up on greenhouse
Running for a good cause
The Bridgton News