Opinions A Cold Snap for the records

balmy 10 below by nightfall while gathering firewood. While I didn’t stay up all that night, between getting up to stoke the fire and check the taps, I can report the thermometer here showed 17 below around midnight. It was still well in the negatives Saturday morning, and the cold was long to linger.

It was the wind more than anything, which really brought the record setting temperatures. Under its restless prompting that little devil called wind-chill sent the temperature, in-sofar as it feels to us living creatures, toppling down to hover somewhere around 27 below, tacking on an extra loss of 10 degrees and practically ensuring frostbite in just about five minutes. Apparently, the weathermen on broadcasting radio have since declared that last Friday night, the air mass over Maine was colder than any other air mass on Earth at the time. Colder than Siberia, colder than Alaska, colder even than the Arctic itself, and that’s because all the Arctic’s cold air was on vacation down here! So, it comes as no surprise to find that temperature records were broken all over Maine, including at Portland, while over in New Hampshire, Mt. Washington clocked in at a record-setting 47 degrees below zero with a wind-chill of 110 below. Just to clarify, that’s as cold as the planet Mars. Record daily lows were also set in Boston, Mass., Providence, R.I., Bridgeport, Conn., and Mt. Mansfield, Vt.; and so, it can truly be said that every one of our sister states here in New England had regions experiencing record low temperatures at the same time. At least, we’re all in this together.

In that spirit, I wanted to share a bit of local weather reporting from 1835, whose significance I feel we’re all now much better able to appreciate. From Portland’s Christian Mirror of Jan. 8, 1835, I bring you a pair of measurements taken in Waterford and North Bridgton, which in comparison

(Continued from Page 1B) this an appropriate factor in considering the merits of his comments.

Nowhere did I criticize his college. I have no idea and could care less where he teaches other than to have sympathy for the hard-working parents and student’s financial sacrifices to listen to his claptrap.

Nowhere did I imply anybody “crucified” MLK.

All the above suggests Mr. StL. is comprehensively challenged, which goes a long way to explaining the many and varied curious contents of his letters.

I understand Mr. StL.’s sensitivities to my paragraph critique as it’s tortured syntax and content could very well have been a collaboration.

It apparently went over his head the point about positive Republican participations in correcting historical wrongs I attempted to make. The point was not to suddenly make them the good guys

Legals

Public Notice

Town Of Naples

Select Board Public Meeting

The Naples Select Board will hold a public hearing on Monday, February 13, 2023 at 6 p.m. It will take place at 15 Village Green Lane. On the agenda: • New Business License Application for the property found on Tax Map U03 Lot 016 and located at 533 Roosevelt Trail (also known as Lakeside Nutrition) The public is welcome. 2T5

1069 Main Street, Lovell, ME 04051 Phone: 207-925-6272 Fax 207-925-1710

Request For Proposal

The Town of Lovell is seeking sealed proposals from qualified Landscape Architect/Civil Engineers, to design a landscape plan that shields a proposed commercial structure from public view. The property is located at 699 Main St., Lovell, Maine, Map R07-038. Deadline for proposals is February 14, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. Proposals will be opened on February 14, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. at the Select Board meeting, Lovell Town Office, 1069 Main St. Lovell, Maine 04051.

The Town of Lovell has the right to accept or reject any or all proposals should it be deemed in the best interest of the Town.

Full RFP can be viewed at https://www.lovellmaine.org/ rfp 2T5

Town Of Denmark

with our late storm, amply prove the old adage that “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”

“He sendeth snow like wool, and scattereth the hoar frost like ashes. Who can stand before his cold? Tens of thousands have felt, in the course of the present week, that there is force and point in this interrogatory. The severity of the cold on the last Sabbath exceeded it is thought anything which has been experienced in this vicinity for several years. We understand that several thermometers in this city indicated 24 degrees below zero, and in other towns the cold was still more excessive. The Rev. Charles Soule wrote us from North Bridgton, on Monday last, as follows: ‘I am informed by two responsible gentlemen, that in Waterford yesterday morning, (Sabbath) at half an hour before sunrise, the thermometer reported thirty-four degrees below zero! My thermometer at sun rise, reported 35 below zero!’” and the Dems the bad guys, but was merely an attempt to remind the “brainwashed” devotees of CNN, MSDNC, NYT, WAPO, the Globe and Press Herald etc. that rarely if ever in life are people always bad or virtuous, and in fact as time fades into the past history remains of interest, and perhaps illustrative but less and less relevant. What is important now, (is to put it terms so stupid Kamala will shortly plagiarize) is now.

Also, it comes to me just as I’m closing out this account, the piece of news that apparently the Canadians have their own groundhog — a late-comer to the party in-so-far as Phil is concerned, but likely one of his near relations just the same — and I’m hearing that his name was Fred. I say “was” because on the big day, when our Canadian counterparts rapped on the door of his little burrow and reached in to pull him out, and all gathered close to discern the intricacies of his prediction… each was distraught to learn that far from seeing his shadow, such a task was now beyond Fred’s power, for very plainly he was dead! The poor thing must have given up the ghost that morning, perhaps from the very strain of anticipating so strong a climactic change. Either way it certainly wasn’t a good omen, and it makes me wonder… maybe he knew what was coming?

Till next time!

What are people expressing for principles now, and for what reason will shape the future of this country deserve far more focus than an interpretation of what happened in 1619, or how some sexually “confused” segment of our population is functioning. These are, at best, peripheral distractions.

Mr. StL. has always been selective in his responses, and while criticizing the shibboleth reference not surprisingly stopped there. That’s a

PUBLIC NOTICE

TOWN OF HARRISON Harrison Water District

The Harrison Water District will have two openings for the Board of Directors for the upcoming term of three (3) years. We urge all interested to pick up nomination papers at the Harrison Town Office. Nomination papers will be available February 13, 2023, and are due back by March 6, 2023. These trustees shall be bona fide residents within the territorial limits of the Harrison Water District and a resident of the Town of Harrison or Bridgton. The election will take place on March 20, 2023, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Harrison Town Office.

PUBLIC NOTICE

TOWN OF CASCO AND TOWN OF NAPLES

Transfer Station and Bulky Waste Facility Days of Operation Changing

The Casco-Naples Transfer Station and Bulky Waste Facility will be changing their days of operation effective the week of February 26, 2023. The new schedule will be: Wednesdays

Thursdays

Saturdays Sundays

(Hours remain the same - 7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.) 3T6

PUBLIC NOTICE

TOWN OF CASCO CASCO COMMUNITY CENTER

940 MEADOW ROAD

FEBRUARY 13TH, 2023

6:30 P.M.

There will be a Public Meeting held on February 13 2023, 6:30 P.M. at the Casco Community Center Meeting Room, 940 Meadow Road, Casco, Maine on the following items: common trait amongst left leaners who love to tell you what triggers them, but then stop short of explaining why or more importantly offering a solution.

• Application for Site Plan – DM Roma representing their client R.J.R., LLC for a Car Wash – 385 Roosevelt Trail, Casco, Portion of Tax Map 2, Lot 18. This area is located in the Commercial District, currently vacant.

• Request for a revised Zoning Map Amendment – Archipelage Michael Morse representing his client Dan Grotto – Resource Protection District Tax Map 2, Lot 32-C-2 Watkins Shore Road, Casco.

• Application for Preliminary Major Subdivision – Sebago Technics representing their client KKT Realty Trust, for a 12 Lot Subdivision located at Leach Hill, Tax Map 8, Lot 31 Casco, Maine. This area is located in the Residential District.

Well Mr. St L., the rest of the comments after shibboleth covered my being sick and tired of being convicted (not accused) of white supremacy by virtue of the color of my skin. If you want to plead guilty to that BS by virtue of your skin color, be my guest, but do it on your own not for the rest of us.

Don Vose Naples

What do they stand for?

To The Editor: The election of 2022 did not diminish the chaos in Congress; witness Republican behavior from Jan. 2 through Jan. 7, 2023. The criticism of the Democratic Party is — elites think they know what is best for all Americans and are willing to spend everyone’s money to achieve their aims. This criticism is somewhat valid.

However, in a brilliant speech Saturday, Jan. 7, Congressman Hakeem Jefferies spelled out, alphabetically, what the Democrats stand for. The juxtaposition of Democrats and Republicans makes it really difficult to criticize the Republicans because no one knows what the Republicans stand for. Republicans have Donnie’s Autocracy — defined as Christian, white, heterosexual, men, dictating the roles for an entire society. Does Nazi Germany come to mind? It will take some time for Trumplicans to crawl back into their caves before moderate and intelligent Republicans emerge enabling all Americans to get on with the nation’s business. It requires maturity, flexibility and commitment to serve all the people — the antithesis of suppression of voters, education, and religion. The current political climate makes it almost mandatory for all Independent voters to look seriously at supporting the Democrats. In any event, we must all stay vigilant and vote!

Joseph W. Angelo Bridgton

LETTERS, Page 3B

TOWN OF BRIDGTON

3 CHASE STREET, SUITE 1 BRIDGTON, MAINE 04009

Keeping Cumberland County Warm Grant

Bridgton was awarded grant funding through Cumberland County to provide additional support heating assistance for persons or families that otherwise would not be eligible to receive funding via general assistance due to income guidelines. The goal of the funds is to target families with incomes above the general assistance and LIHEAP income caps for Cumberland County. Please visit our website for additional information and application: keepingcumberlandcountywarm – Town of Bridgton, Maine (bridgtonmaine.org). 1T4,6

This week’s game solutions

The date to have Nomination Papers back to the Town Clerk’s Office will be March 31, 2023, at 4:30 p.m.

Elections will be on June 2, 2023 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Town Meeting will be on June 3, 2023 beginning at 9 a.m.

• Application for Preliminary Major Subdivision – MainLand Development Consultants, Inc. representing their client OMM24, LLC for a five lot Subdivision located at Heath Road and Azwelikit Road, Tax Map 11, Lots 11 & 11-11-3 Casco Maine. This area is located in the Residential, Stream, and Wetland District.

Respectfully Submitted by, Mary Tremblay Town of Casco Deputy Code Enforcement Officer

Devil’s in the detail…

To The Editor: In his recent Feb. 2 screed, “Follow the laws,” local contributor Robert Howe Jr. makes some dubious claims in regards to the sitting president, one being that he has [sic] “Foolishly sold off our strategic oil reserves to China,” a U.S. adversary. There is a modicum of veracity in this assertion, but if the readership will allow me to play Alexa… “here’s what I’ve found:”

In a July 5, 2022 article, Reuters reported: “More than 5 million barrels of oil that were part of a historic U.S. emergency reserves release to lower domestic fuel prices were exported to Europe and Asia last month, according to data and sources, even as U.S. gasoline and diesel prices hit record highs.” (https://www.factcheck.org/2022/07/u-s-selling-oil-from-the-strategicpetroleum-reserve-to-the- highest-bidding-companies/)

And, it is true that at the time, Biden responded by tapping the SPR, and that in the long run, putting those reserves into the global markets contributed to stabilizing inflated soaring prices exacerbated by Putin’s (still ongoing) weaponization of fossil energy.

By law, since 2015, the oil is sold exclusively to “eligible” companies that make the highest offers. It’s auctioned off to those bidding entities per the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy, and some of the companies are U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies, and some that purchased oil have then exported a portion to buyers overseas. And yes, Mr. Howe, a million barrels were sold almost a year ago now to Unipec America, which had at one time a relationship with a subsidiary Chinese investment firm that Hunter Biden — upon whose board of directors the president’s son once sat (he hasn’t for some time now). Exports increase the global supply and still help with U.S. gas prices, experts told us.

Basic law of supply and demand, Mr. Howe…

Obituaries

Charles E. Ihloff

Charles Ernest Ihloff was born in August of 1935 to Mildred and Ernest Ihloff in Bristol, Conn.; encouraged to read using proper English, his foundation was born.

Charlie’s father, a Lafayette College grad, was therefore informed of a Ford Foundation experiment designed to determine where high school and college development overlapped. Two weeks after his 16th birthday, he entered their Early Admission Program, graduating with a BA in History.

He met many of the foremost theologians of the day at Union Seminary, subsequently graduating from Andover Newton Theological Seminary. He interned as an Associate Protestant Chaplain at Boston University and practice taught at both Emerson College and Suffolk University, experiences informing his decision to seek parish ministry. Chuck was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 1959.

Having met and married a nursing student, Joan Amendola and having two children, Cathy and Ernie, the family moved to Portland, Maine, where he specialized in youth work at the State Street Church. He served his first parish, a federation of American Baptist and Congregational Churches in Brooklyn, Conn. In those 16 years he did the academic work on a Master’s in Old Testament Theology, began his 64 year career as a volunteer firefighter, served on committees on alcoholism etc., while chairing the committee that built the local junior high school.

Divorced from Joan, who died in 1978, Chuck was called to the Congregational Church of South Hadley Falls, where he served for 20 years. A special time for the church was his marriage to Holly Henion, an artist he’d met through the youth program at Conn. Baptist Camp Wightman, where both enjoyed Youth Ministry. Chuck earned his Doctorate in Family Systems Therapy from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary of Philadelphia in 1991.

Called to Casco, Maine, in 1994, he helped modernize the church building and retired on Jan. 1, 2000; he served as Interim Pastor for over six years in three parishes and was the settled pastor in Cornish for eight-plus years.

A true Renaissance Man, Chuck stands out in four ways: active youth programs in each of his churches and over 50 weeks as counselor at church conferences in two states. Understanding committee structure, he was scribe and moderator of the Conference Association, always active at the state level. He was a lifelong scholar, devouring multiple books weekly, all topics. He was instrumental in building projects wherever he went. World travel mattered.

Chuck leaves his treasured wife Holly, his brother and sister-in-law, an extended family of son and daughter with spouses, three grandchildren and two great-grandsons, 16 nieces and nephews, and his lifelong devotion to kindness and the Christian faith.

A Memorial Service will be held at Casco Village Church, 941 Meadow Road, Casco, on Friday, Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. All are welcome. Arrangements are in the care of the Hall Funeral Home in Casco, www.hallfuneralhome.net.

and… Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for the fuel-price tracking service GasBuddy, said that the SPR releases authorized by the president had a positive impact on gasoline prices by “preventing prices from escalating more substantially” — not so much by actively pushing prices down.” Why?

Because of the most basic of all economic principles — lost apparently on Mr. Howe again and the talking heads of Fox “News” where he morphoses his disinformation — supply and demand. More crude on the market — going to China or Timbuktu, wherever — drives down the price and is passed on to U.S. consumers at the pump or in their heating oil tanks in Lovell or Scranton or wherever in the northeast United States primarily.

As far as Mr. Howe’s wild assertions in the screed about the sitting president willy-nilly running up the national debt — let us… eerr…Alexa… remind the readership that Reagan, as president, trebled it, and “45” increased it by that same percentage during his disastrous twice-impeached train-wreck administration.

Jon St. Laurent Lovell

Stop the system failures

To The Editor: Greetings. “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem, government IS the problem.” These were some of the many words from Ronald Reagan’s inaugural address back in January 1981. It was very apropos and correct back in January 1981 when President Ronald Reagan spoke those words. It’s still very apropos, correct and true even now to this day and new year. Many governmental problems and issues exist within our government, with numerous “system failure” issues, including but not limited to our federal (national) government, state governments, and local governments. Newer examples of that now include the “weather balloon” from China, unlawfully entering American airspace and being controlled by China,

Lino G. Charpentier

Lino Gerard Charpentier Jr., known to friends as “Jerry,” passed away on January 22, 2023, at the age of 81. Lino was born in Bath, Maine, to Florence Amanda Charpentier and Lino Gerard Charpentier Sr., where he lived until his Junior year in high school.

Lino then moved to Florida with his parents where he graduated from South Broward High School and enrolled in ROTC. He earned a BA at Loyola University in New Orleans and went on to serve as a captain in the Army.

Lino met his ex-wife, Gabriele Hildegard Charpentier, in 1965 while stationed in Aschaffenburg, Germany. After their wedding the family returned to Florida where Lino worked for Walt Disney World, Deloitte & Touche as well as Security 1st Federal Savings & Loan. In 1975 Lino returned with his family to his beloved state of Maine where he worked for Dielectric LLC for nine years. During this time the family lived in South Bridgton. In 1984, Lino relocated with his family back to Florida to care for his ailing parents. There he continued his civilian career as a professional accountant. In retirement, Lino pursued his lifelong dream of acting and performed in many community theatre productions as well as several television commercials.

Lino was survived by his daughter, Catherine Charpentier, son, Michael Charpentier, son-in-law, Scott Macleod, daughter-in-law, Heike Schmidt-Charpentier, and grandchildren Ian, Jennifer, Jonas and Jannik.

A funeral service and burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery, where Lino will be remembered for his love and devotion to his family, the Catholic Church, his distinguished service to his country as well as his love of the state of Maine and childhood friends. May he rest in peace.

Warren’s Florist

~ Always Fabulous Florals ~ ~ Fruit & Gift Baskets ~ ~ Ganz Plush Animals ~ Balloons ~ 39 Depot Street, Bridgton, ME 04009 207-647-8441 • 800-834-8407 navigation-wise. More to all this as post-incident investigations begin. All very alarming and troubling as it should be.

With the ongoing “fallout,” (pun not intended) from the “weather balloon” from China, entering and navigating through American airspace, in violation of our laws, it should be very alarming and a deeply troubling set of issues by the American people. How come this “incident” was not adequately, properly or timely dealt with, when this balloon entered American airspace in Alaska first and then into Montana and beyond, to South Carolina? What was its actual intended purpose? Much speculation exists with much to be investigated. This is yet another example of governmental “system failure” by a government that is supposed to protect and serve We, the People, of America.

At the state level, we have investigations of Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and its Child Protective Services (CPS) Bureau. Many previous deaths and other harm done to children have happened on DHHS’ watch and control. Not okay! More investigations and more thorough reviews with meaningful greater accountability and oversight are needed, including by the Maine Legislature’s

Government Oversight Committee. Same reviews need to happen with the Department of Labor and its divisions, for its past to recent systematic issues and problems.

It is up to the American people, including we Mainers, to demand better of their government at all levels, with greater accountability and responsibility of this government and accountability of all our elected political leaders who are supposed to represent the American people vs. other outside special interests. We need greater transparency with more enhanced governmental oversight at the state level too, with increased transparency and accountability of all state departments and their bureaus and divisions. Same needs to happen the federal level.

In closing, we must address and remedy government’s many “system failure” woes. Let’s not have more of the same ineptness and “system failure” issues, with recurring misfeasance and malfeasance by those in government and their departments’ bureaus and divisions. Let’s move forward in a meaningful way.

Let’s get to it and fix our governments. Enough of chronic “system failures” and chronic bad “public policy.”

David Hall Cornish

Thomas H. Hill

Thomas H. Hill, 67, of Bridgton, passed away on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at his home. He was born in Lewiston on January 19, 1956, the son of Howard M. and Dorothea Foss Hill. He attended Hope Training School and had worked as a landscaper for Landmark in Bridgton for 10 years. He always had a smile on his face and never forgot anyone he meet.

He is survived by his sisters Betty Jones, Sandra Poland and her husband Ken, and Charlot Wormwell and her husband Robbie; Arthur Hatch, several nieces and nephews, Matthew Jones, Kimberly Poland, Shane Poland, and Justin Wormwell. He was predeceased by his parents, and an infant brother Charles Hill.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Wayside Cemetery in West Paris. To share memories and condolences with the family, please go to www.chandlerfunerals.com. Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 45 Main Street, South Paris.

Box 244, 118 Main St. Bridgton, ME 04009 tel. 207-647-2851 | fax 207-647-5001 e-mail: bnews@roadrunner.com