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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 148, No. 6
24 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
February 9, 2017
(USPS 065-020)
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Resident recommends the ‘branding’ of Naples By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Branding is something that livestock owners do. They brand their cattle or sheep with their logo so that everyone knows that those animals belong to that particular agricultural business. Branding is also a time-proven technique used in marketing. It can apply to products that people might buy. It can apply to a town that people might want to visit. After all, tourism is a renewable resource. If the Town of Naples had a brand, it would certainly play off the boating atmosphere that is so prevalent to anyone crossing the Causeway between May and September, according to Jonathon “Jon” March. “Naples is one of the few towns in Maine with a remaining waterfront culture from the turn of the century,” he said. March is a Naples resident who is involved in the annual Classic Wooden Boat Show on the Causeway; he takes on the role of emcee during that well-attended event. Also, March operates the business Imageworks, which provides consulting on outdoor lighting among other things. On Monday, March had several recommendations of ways to enhance the tourist experience.
The perfect balance — something that is required while on a boat — is promoting the town while adhering to the residents’ desires as expressed in the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, he said. At this point in time, his ideas are just that — ideas. None of his concepts are being immediately pursued although some of the items he mentioned such as signage and lighting are topics being considered by the Naples Ordinance Review Committee. “These are visionary things for the town,” March said. He provided a quick presentation for the Naples Board of Selectmen on Monday. March spoke during public participation time, and asked to be on the agenda in the future. “I would like to be included (on the agenda) to propose this in more details. I just glossed over this,” he said. “I’ve been working with a town in Connecticut. They have the same issues that Naples has: Shoreland Zoning laws, signage,” he said. Some of his advice was maintaining an eye for detail and getting rid of trash before weekend events happen. He showed a photo of garbage that had washed up on the beach BRANDING, Page 3A
Belated audit slows town’s budget process
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The Naples selectmen experienced the domino effect this week. On Monday, the board should have been receiving the town manager’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Instead, the board heard that the auditing firm was holding up the budget process for the town. The auditing firm engaged by the Town of Naples, RHR Smith and Company, of Buxton, has yet to perform the audit needed to complete the draft budget, according to Naples Town Manager Ephrem Paraschak. He updated the board on the 2017–18 budget during the manager’s comments. “The head of the auditing firm wants to meet with me,” Paraschak said. He was not certain the meeting would take place this week. One promised the previous week had not panned out. “One thing this year is to look at our
auditing” contract again, Paraschak said. Chairman Bob Caron II spoke on the topic. “In four years, we keep having issues. The audit keeps getting dragged on and dragged on. Then, it cuts into the budget committee doing their work,” Caron said. “After this budget season is done, we should find another company that can work better with the town,” Caron said. Paraschak said, “Just being comfortable with a contract is not where it’s at.” Because of the holiday, Presidents’ Day, which falls on a Monday, the board will not meet again until Feb. 27. Most likely, Paraschak will e-mail board members copies of the draft budget when that is done. He did provide the selectmen with a quick overview. There will be increases in the administration portion of the budget because of PICKING UP SPEED — A four-dog sled team is eager to head out onto the race course personnel and health care costs, he said. during Saturday’s Mushers Bowl held at Five Fields Farm in South Bridgton. Due to AUDIT, Page 2A snow conditions, the event was scaled back to one day. (Rivet Photo)
Director questions student trip where Zika present By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer As Tom Hancock listened to details about student travel requests for 2017 on Monday night, he likely thought how lucky Lake Region students are to be offered chances to see the world. Italy.
New Zealand and Australia. Or, how about a fun day at Six Flags in Agawam, Mass. But, Hancock was a little leery about one proposal — a trip to Guatemala City in November. His concern — SAD 61 sending students to a Zika Zone.
“I don’t believe the school district should be sending child-bearing age students into an area known to have the Zika virus,” said Hancock, a Casco school board member. He noted that there were 105 reported cases of Zika in Guatemala City. Jessica DiBiase, who is
taking over the trip for Brook Sulloway, told the school board that students would be in a dry area with little to no mosquito activity, and would protect themselves with lotions and spray. Student School Board representative Mallory Strain defended the trip, saying a
previous visit there changed her life. In fact, she will be making her third visit to Guatemala shortly. Strain visited the country as part of a church group as a sophomore, and then went with Sulloway’s group under the Safe Passage program. Students taught English to
children there and visited a “dump” where many children and adults pick through waste. DiBiase says the trip sends a powerful message to students, who suddenly realize the many riches they often take for granted living in the SAD 61, Page 3A
Motorists, get ready to rumble By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The rumble strip is a simple solution. Rumble strips, the grooves placed in the pavement on the centerline, have been used to reduce head-on collisions, according to the state transportation department. When a vehicle’s tires pass over the rumble strip, it creates a noise that alerts the driver that he or she is crossing into the oncoming lane. Last summer, rumble strips were put in place on Route
302 in Raymond and Casco. The Maine Department of Transportation “MDOT will be installing rumble strips on Route 302 in Naples,” Naples Town Manager Ephrem Paraschak said. It is a statewide goal to reduce accidents at high risk places, he said. Paraschak said from his communication with MDOT, the rumble strips will be placed in the pavement from the area past the Naples Fire Station to the Sandy Creek Road turnoff, which is located RUMBLE, Page 2A
The Bridgton News Established 1870
ALL IN FUN AND FOR A GOOD CAUSE — Fryeburg Academy cheerleader Jasmine Gauthier takes a whipped cream pie in the face as part of a team fundraiser held during a recent varsity basketball game. (Rivet Photos)
P.O. Box 244, 118 Main St. Bridgton, ME 04009 207-647-2851 Fax: 207-647-5001 bnews@roadrunner.com