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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 149, No. 8
24 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
February 22, 2018
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 6B
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Sebago working to build its own school system By Allen Crabtree Special to The News SEBAGO — Remember the old joke about the dog who was always chasing cars? Then, one day he caught one and didn’t know what to do with it!
Sebago voters have been working for two years to withdraw from SAD 61, but unlike the dog in the joke, they knew exactly what they were doing and are now heavily involved in creating a new Sebago School Administrative Unit
(SAU). In the Nov. 7, 2017 referendum, Sebago voters overwhelmingly approved the withdrawal agreement negotiated with SAD 61 that would keep Sebago Elementary School from being closed
and allow Sebago to insure a top-quality education for their children. Sebago had joined SAD 61 in 1966. Leaving it to create a new SAU will allow Sebago to run its own elementary school as the town used to before joining SAD
61, while also tuitioning older students to middle and high schools of parents’ choice. Creating a new Sebago SAU In order to be ready to open Sebago Elementary School in September 2018, there are a
number of things that need to be done to set up the SAU. Dr. Mark Eastman is Sebago’s educational consultant and veteran of many similar successful efforts of small Maine towns to withdraw SEBAGO, Page 4A
Porter Museum director leaving Rufus Porter Museum director, Martha Cummings, is leaving to pursue professional interests in southern New Hampshire. She and her husband, Al, look forward to living closer to family and the Seacoast area. They expect to make the transition by June. Cummings began her association with the Bridgton museum in 2014 as a docent and member of the Facilities Committee. She was soon invited to be on the board of trustees, and was made director in February of 2016. Cummings’ background includes a master of arts degree in historic preservation from Plymouth State University in Plymouth, N.H., and professional experience as an assistant manager of historic houses at Longyear Museum in Chestnut Hill, SHIVERS AND CHEERS — Sixty-two jumpers helped raise $26,000 for Harvest Hills Animal Shelter in Fryeburg Mass. During her time as direcduring Saturday’s Freezing for a Reason held at Highland Lake in Bridgton, as part of the town’s Winter Carnival tor, the Rufus Porter Museum festivities. More photos on Page 2A. (Rivet Photos) consolidated its properties
onto its current, highly visible Main Street location, moving the red Nathan Church House from North High Street. She also coordinated rehabilitation of the Webb House on the new downtown campus. Cummings led a revision of the museum’s strategic plan, designed the permanent exhibit in the Webb House, stabilized the museum’s finances, and upgraded the database and other technology. Membership, giving and volunteerism have all increased over the time she has been the director. “There is a sense of joy and purpose at the museum,” says Cummings of her efforts to encourage members and volunteers to participate on all levels. “It’s an exciting place these days. The museum is on the cusp of something wonderful.” “That’s because Rufus Porter is such an inspiration,” she adds. “He was so many DIRECTOR, Page 3A
Camp to build major rec center
Ukes sound good Woodmakers wow LRMS with musical gifts
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — At the height of winter, some people like to vacation where the temps are warmer — someplace like Hawaii. On the Friday before February vacation began, students at Lake Region Middle School (LRMS) got a taste of Hawaii. Six handcrafted ukuleles — including one electric uke — became the property of the school. The ukuleles were presented in front of the student body during a pep rally on Friday afternoon. Bob Berry, who teaches a woodworking class a couple times a week at Windham Christian Academy, made the ukuleles. Academy students — who had helped with the ukulele project in their woodworking class – were on hand to present the ukes to LRMS. Additionally, Berry’s former employer, Sabre Yachts presented a $200 check to the LRMS music department. Sabre Yachts had provided the scrap wood that Berry and his class used to handcraft the ukes. Also, students from the two schools collaborated, performing a song on the ukuleles — a piece that they had practiced just hours beforehand. It was a song familiar to the students in the bleachers; and before the melody was done, the crowd stood up, swayed to the music and sang the lyrics. According to Wikipedia “the ukulele is a member of the lute family of instruments. It generally employs four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings.” UKULELES, Page 12A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO – While building permits typically slow down during the winter, one nonprofit known around the region has a big construction project in the works. “A permit was issued for Camp Sunshine. Camp Sunshine is building an indoor recreation center. It is a huge facility with a rock wall and a gym,” according to Casco Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) Alex Sirois. The permit was taken out with site plan review. Point Sebago Resort also took out a building permit for 2018, he said. The number of building permits for the first month of the New Year has “slowed down since December” Sirois said. “October through December, there was a steady curve. It is obviously slower now,” he said. The Town of Casco issues
“a little [more than] 200 permits for the year,” which is a few more than the annual average, Sirois said. “Most of the ones I issue this time of year are residential,” he said, adding the exception has been Camp Sunshine and Point Sebago Resort. CEO Sirois provided a department update to the Casco Board of Selectmen recently. “It was quiet for about two weeks,” he told the board. “For some reason,” the first week of February “was busy just out of the blue,” he said. A few weeks ago, Sirois issued a permit for tree harvesting on Poland Spring Road. The area is near Quaker Ridge Road, he said. As part of his report to the board, Sirois addressed code violations but did not go into detail. “Some violations are still ongoing,” he said. CAMP, Page 5A
Casco timber sale nets 10K
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO – From towering trees that bring in good prices in the form of lumber to the sand and salt that helps vehicles maneuver on the roads and public easements, Casco Town Manager Dave Morton covered the
spectrum in his report to the selectmen. The revenue-generating timber harvest on town land off State Park road has been completed, Morton said. “The town has netted $4,533 from the sale of wood harvested,” he said. TIMBER, Page 3A
The Bridgton News Established 1870
HANDCRAFTED UKULELES — Windham Christian Academy students Cailyn Wheeler and Emilee Dehetre display the ukuleles they made with students in the woodworking class taught by Bob Berry. (De Busk Photo)
P.O. Box 244, 118 Main St. Bridgton, ME 04009 207-647-2851 Fax: 207-647-5001 bnews@roadrunner.com