February 23, 2023

Good sports

Lake Region girls’, boys’ teams shine on and off the indoor track; land banners Page

Quick exits

Laker girls’ shooting touch goes ice cold; Raider boys unable to contain Hawks Page

Access: Where to go next?

By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer

HARRISON — Phil

Devlin believed Harrison made a strong case to land a Maine Connectivity Authority grant to address broadband access issues within the town.

Local research found that 78% of addresses have access to Spectrum, but not all subscribe due to cost.

Meanwhile, 22% do not have access to Spectrum and use DSL, Starlink and cellular data plans.

MCA stats had Harrison with 1,455 with cable access and 425 with no cable access.

There was $34 million available, and MCA received 29 grant requests, totaling $105 million.

Tier 1 included those unserved percentage of 50% or more; and Tier 2 ranked applicants according to cost/ benefit.

Harrison, Devlin told Harrison Select Board members at their Feb. 9 meeting, had a good cost/benefit, but funds ran out before Tier 2 community proposals were evaluated.

MCA approved 12 requests.

Devlin, a Select Board member who has been working on the Broadband issue, said it is back to the drawing board. One way Harrison could improve its chances of securing a grant during

HARRISON, Page 4A

Mixed reviews on dump changes

By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO

— One of the things in life that can make a person frustrated and upset is loading up the vehicle with boxes of recycling and bags of smelly trash only to discover the dump is closed.

It is enough to turn a person into Oscar the Grouch, or worse.

Therefore, people who use the Casco-Naples Bulky Waste and Transfer Station (BW&TS) should note that the days of operation will change in March.

The facility will no longer be open on Tuesday.

Starting March 1, the new days of operation are:

Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

This change occurred in order to give employees two days off in a row, while giving the public the continued use of the facility on both Saturday and Sunday. Ownership of the facility is shared by the towns of Casco and Naples. Those towns have been trying to spread the word about switching the days the dump is open.

The BW&TS employees have been handing out fliers letting people know about the change in the days that

CHANGES, Page 2A

Garage to serve as aid station

By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer

CASCO — This summer, a Casco Days garage and first aid center will be built exactly where it looks like it should go, next to the red barn. It’ll be slightly out of the public’s view, but accessible to emergency personnel.

111 set new Freezin’ mark

By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer

Sunshine, warmer weather and gumption contributed to a record-breaking number of jumpers braving Highland Lake to raise $29,500 for the local animal shelter.

“The record we broke is the number of jumpers. This year was the most jumpers we’ve ever had. There were a lot of people in big groups. There were 111 jumpers,” according to Harvest Hills Animal Shelter (HHAS) Executive Director Joan McBurnie.

“We had a lot of new people. We had a great balance of some alumni who came out and knew what they were doing. We had these amazing people, who in the last week before the event, raised lots of money,” she said.

McBurnie weighed in on this year’s Freezing for a Reason fundraiser, which took place Saturday while temperatures rose to the upper 30s and lower 40s.

“The weather was good. I honestly think that is why we had more jumpers. When we started the preregistration, it was during the Arctic blasts. Hardly anyone signed up. The day of the jump, the number of jumpers doubled with the people who registered at the last minute,” she said.

“We still had a line of people to register at 12:30 p.m. (The jump starts at 1 p.m.) Luckily, we got everyone in because the chamber was so wonderful and they don’t care. They said, ‘Basically, take their money and sign them up. We can push back the times on everything,’” McBurnie said.

“At 12:15 p.m., it didn’t look like we were going to start on time. But I have amazing volunteers who really pulled it off. We launched at 1 p.m.,” she said.

The Greater Bridgton Lakes Chamber of Commerce hosts the Winter Carnival, which for years has taken place on the same day as Freezing. The Freezing fundraiser brought in $29,500 so far.

FREEZIN’ MARK, Page 3A

Jumpers: Cold feet, happy hearts

By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer

Following the plunge into Highland Lake in February, people who didn’t get cold feet commented how cold their feet got.

“You don’t get cold until you come out and it’s mostly your feet that are cold,” Kristin Whittaker said.

“But, what a fun event! It woke me up. I’ve been up since 3 a.m., driving from Connecticut, and I’m wide awake now,” she said.

Her family were all firsttime jumpers in Freezing For Reason, the annual fundraiser for Harvest Hills Animal Shelter.

Usually, it’s a different season (summer) when Whittaker visits her friends who live in Bridgton. This winter, Whittaker’s family traveled here to ski at Pleasant Mountain. They learned about the fundraiser and made a special trip to participate on Saturday.

“It was myself, my two children, my friend, and we had an extra Speedo person join us. He jumped twice because my son and

him were both wearing Speedos,” she laughed.

Another group of friends and family were roundedup by a woman who hosts

cold water, community dips in Portland. James was part of the group that was new to participating in the shelter’s fundraiser, but familiar with hopping in cold water.

“It was cold. My toes are freezing. That was the worse part,” James said.

“I’ve done dipping with her a few times. She has dragged me to some of those [cold water dips]. Then, I found out about this,” he said.

So, he raised money for the shelter to do something that is becoming a hobby.

Faye Warner, of Portland, explained how

JUMPERS, Page 3A

The Casco Board of Selectmen voted, 3-0-1, to formally allow the garage to be built on town-owned land.After all, the land was already intended to be used for Casco Days. Selectman Grant Plummer was absent; and Selectman Scott Avery recused himself since he is a member of the Casco Days Fair Association.

“What we are doing for Casco Days is making it so the next generation can operate it easily and smoothly,” according to Tom Mulkern.

“It is on the land already dedicated to Casco Days,” he said.

He provided anticipated ground-breaking and completion dates.

“We are looking at an April start for ground -

Warm & cool talks

By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer

CASCO — The Town of Casco is trying to determine which building or building(s) are appropriate to designate as a warmingcooling center.

During a discussion about how to develop a warming center in the Town of Casco, one selectman noticed that cooling center needed to be mentioned in the policy too. A house with no air conditioning can be downright uncomfortable and unhealthy when it is hot and humid outside.

The topic ended up on the Casco selectmen’s agenda after the winter weather in early February: two sub-zero days with 50+ mph winds driving the temperatures down to inhospitable. Many towns offered warming centers in advance. But, it seemed Casco did not have a FEMA-approved site listed with the county. Selectmen are seeking to change that.

While the image of families and elderly couples escaping their chilly homes during long power outages or extreme cold

FIST BUMP FOR GOOD LUCK — Young spectators wish a jumper well before taking the plunge into icy Highland Lake for Saturday’s Freezing for a Reason to benefit Harvest Hills Animal Shelter. A record number of jumpers braved the frigid waters to aid the Shelter.

(De Busk Photo)

NOW THAT WASN’T TOO BAD or was it? These jumpers make a quick return to dry land. (Photo by Pam Ward)

Warming, cooling center

(Continued from Page 1A)

spells, and using the community center as a place to warm up and spend time is a nice one, it just doesn’t happen.

The reality is that very few people use a town’s designated warming center, according to Casco Fire Chief Brian Cole.

“Since the topic has come up because of last December [ extended power outages]. It is great we are offering the centers. The problem is the lack of attendance ,” he said, asking the selectmen, “How much

C/N dump changes

(Continued from Page 1A)

the facilities are open to the public, according to Assistant Supervisor Matt Libby.

Staff have been giving the fliers to people as they exit, he said. Additionally, the change is written on the message board, he said.

“We’ve gotten a mixed bag of responses. Some people are quick to put their nose up at it. Some people think that it is something that was expected,” he said.

“It is a way to give us a little weekend. Before the schedule was staggered. We were on one day and off the next. This way we have two days off. It will make it easier for some of us to do family stuff and holiday stuff,” he said. March 1 marks the switch, the first Wednesday the BW&TS will be open.

“Next week is the beginning of the new schedule,” Libby said.

effort are we going to put into this?”

He conveyed a story of when about a half-dozen towns designated St. Joseph’s College as a 24-hour warming center. Some of the town were Casco, Windham, Raymond, Standish and Gorham.

“There were three (3) people that went to that 24-hour center and there were some big towns involved in this. There are so many people putting time into this, to have three people show up. Is it better to offer hotel vouchers from the Microtel,” he said.

Still, it’s important to have an emergency center, a building that is available when needed. In order to do that, there are requirements outlined by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

So, the town is moving forward with the objective to have an official warming-cooling center in town and possibly to be part of a regional network. The town wants to follow the requirements for a building or buildings to qualify as centers, and to have a plan in place for different scenarios. Some of that was discussed on Tuesday night as the chief presented some details to the board.

This topic will be on the agenda on the future; the board agreed it should be workshopped.

On Tuesday, Chief Cole explained that when Don Gerrish was interim town manager, they put together a list of criteria for a structure to be a warming-cooling center or an emergency shelter. Cole said the town would involve the local school district, SAD 61, and he has already had discussions with the facilities director “Crooked River Elementary School. That is the only school building in district that has a generator,” Cole said.

The generator makes CRES an ideal candidate for an emergency center, he said.

“As a side note, Director of Transportation, Facilities and Food Services Andy Madura is working to get other schools on generators. He is going to provide those letters to the school board,” he said.

Selectman Scott Avery asked about staffing.

“It would have be a volunteer force, not the town staff. That would be based on the number of people attending as well,” Cole said.

One of the selectmen asked about trainings.

“There are several required trainings. It’s not as easy saying we want this to be a center. There is training. We have to have a space for animals because people bring animals,” Cole said.

“It is not as easy as handing out water and coffee,” he said, saying there are specific rules to follow in handling food.

“Everything is developed by FEMA. We don’t recreate that wheel. It is a matter of putting those parts and pieces together,” he said.

“It is not that we won’t do it. We need direction and we need to create the volunteer force to do this,” Cole told the board.

Casco Town Manager Anthony “Tony” Ward touched on what a policy would do for the town.

“With a policy, we wanted clarity for the staff, for the public. When is the center giong to be open? What are expectations? So the public will know more about what is going on,” Ward said. “Once we create a policy and adhere to it, it will be better for everyone involved.”

One way to get around the cost of opening a facility simply as a warming center is to offer the use of places during business hours, Chief Cole said.

“A lot of communities use the town office, the community center, the library during business hours when people are there already,” he said. It’s just a matter of communicating with public that on days when the library is open, the warming center is open.”

First-aid station

(Continued from Page 1A)

work, and to be completed by early or mid-July,” he said.

On Tuesday, Mulkern made the request of the selectmen to permit the Casco Days Fair Association to use the town property to build a proposed garage.

“What Casco Days needs to do is build a warehouse by the basketball court. It’s a 20-X-50 foot warehouse. On this side would be the first aid house. The rest would be the warehouse,” he said.

“The door would be in the front rather than on the side. It will be 42 inches. Rescue would have full access. The door would slide. This would allow us to palletize items for Casco Days,” he said.

The selectmen expressed pleasure that CDFA was moving forward with this added storage space after doing vital repairs to the barn.

“This has been talked about for some time. It is finally coming to fruition ,” Mary-Vienessa Fernandes said.

“This is really good thing — something that has been needed for a long time,” Avery said.

PLENTY OF FUN TO BE HAD at the Winter Carnival, from rides, ice fishing, wagon rides, chili tasting/judging and time at the Ice Bar. (Photos by Pam Ward)

The Chamber would like to thank ALL the sponsors and volunteers that helped make this year’s Winter Carnival a huge success!

UNLEASH THE DOGS — Time for a dash and jump into Highland Lake during the annual Freezing for a Reason. (Photo by Ashleigh London Photography)

111: new Freezin’ mark

(Continued from Page 1A)

Some money is still trickling in, McBurnie said.

“Usually, there is more money that comes in later. Some people showed up [on jump day] with digital payments and we weren’t set up for that,” she said.

“I am in a little bit of shock about how much money was raised. I say that because of the economy. People don’t have extra money. Between that

and our Christmas Eve Sleepover being so successful — I am shocked and grateful,” McBurnie said.

“We are in a small village. It speaks volumes the support we have from the local community. After the Christmas Eve Sleepover did so good, it was a hard from my perspective to go out and do another fundraiser, knowing the state of everyone’s finances,” she said.

In addition to helping with the shelter’s financial needs, the event “brings awareness to the shelter,” she said.

As always there are key figures in helping pull off another Freezing event.

“Thanks to Bridgton Public Works which opens up the lake. Between the public works and the Bridgton Fire and Rescue Department, I wouldn’t get anywhere with the fun-

draiser,” she said. She also thanked Dan Harden, who is in charge of the winter carnival event, and is on the HHAS board of directors.

In the future, the event may have more technology down at the lake to expedite registrations, and maybe even take payments that aren’t in the form of cash or checks.

“Next year, we will do something to be a little more electronic,” McBurnie said.

“The one thing that was

Jumpers: Cold feet, happy hearts

(Continued from Page 1A)

the team came to be.

“Essentially, I kind of instigated it. My friend Hannah and I have been cold water dipping for the better part of two years, pretty regularly in the ocean and in the lakes. We decided to do this. But a couple of our friends couldn’t make it today. I was able to round these guys up and convince them. Then, my 85-year old grandmother Anne Warner came to watch,” she said.

Faye’s cousin Jessica “Jess” Warner jumped for the first time, too.

“I’m from Bridgton, grew up in Bridgton and now I’ve just bought a house recently back in Bridgton. So, I’ve known about this for years,” she said,

Over the years, she has watched people jump in Highland Lake for the area animal shelter.

“This is the first year I’ve done Freezing for a Reason. I’m so glad I did it. It was lot more fun being

SUCCESSFUL DAY AT THE LAKE — Jumpers conquer cold lake temps; emcees Dan Harden and Joan McBurnie; rail balancing acts.

part of it — that is for sure,” Jesse Warner said. When asked for a takeaway from the experience, she answered: “Freezing cold. Just a lot of fun. And it is for charity so it feels good.”

Faye Warner said she and her friends were pleased that they exceeded the original, fundraising goal.

Another first-time jumper Katie Miller, of Standish, was delighted with her decision to not chicken out.

“You know, there was so much adrenaline pumping that I did not feel cold until I got out of the water,” Miller said. “So I would do it again. However, having a nice warm car picking me up would really make the difference.”

Fellow jumper Kenzie agreed, “It was cold.”

Katie explained how everyone ended up at the lake for Freezing For A reason in 2023.

“My husband has five younger siblings. They all live in Pennsylvania. Last year, they were visiting and we were in Bridgton eating somewhere, and the waitress said, ‘You should go to the winter festival,’ ” Katie Miller said. “My little sister in law, who is 15 now, did it all on her own. She signed up. We showed up too late to do it last year.”

When asked why she followed through with it

February 23, 2023 The Bridgton News, Page 3A

Harvest Hills Animal

hard for us is last minute registrations. We try to push for people to preregister. It makes it easier for everyone. We had 55 people preregistered. On the day of the event, we had 50 to 60 people register,” she said. “People don’t realize that we need a cutoff time for tallying. We have to tally how much money came in to figure out who the winners are.”

The 2023 winners were: Team Spirit Award:

Sportsman’s Kitchen & Keg Team that raised most and jumped: Bridgton Veterinary Hospital

Adult (18+) who raised the most and jumped: Dawn Wentworth Young Adult (13 to 18) who raised the most and jumped: Katie Collins Child (Up to 12) who raised the most and jumped: Zoe Anderson. Non-jumper who raised the most: the Burnell Team

TESTING IT OUT — One of the people who registered for the rail jam tries out the course prior to the competition. The rail jam was a new addition to the activities at the Bridgton Winter Carnival. It was set up on the shore of Highland Lake. Brad Bonney, of Bridgton, hosted the event, which drew almost two-dozen [22] competitors on skis and snowboards. “I was very happy with how many people came out to compete and so excited to see how many people showed up to spectate,” Bonney said. “Everyone seems to love the idea so much that we will be returning again next year, and it will be bigger and better.” (De Busk Photos)

this year, Miller answered. “This year, I couldn’t let my 15-year old sister in law show me up,” she said.

“But also for the pets, of course.”

The group from Pennsylvania ended up

with 10 people.

“There were nine of us plus one person from Nora Belle’s Pizza shop decided to join us yesterday. We went to get pizza and he was like last-minute, ‘Uhh, I guess I’ll do it with you,’ ” Katie said. “It’s all for the pets.”

Relative Chris Miller said he really enjoyed himself. He didn’t complain about cold feet.

“It was a ton of fun. [I] did it twice because it was so fun,” he said.

Chris said the ‘Freezing’ experience is worth repeating again.

“It is going to be [a tradition] for many years to come,” he said.

“It’ll be a family tradition,” Katie said.

MAKE A BIG SPLASH as participants of the

Shelter’s Freezing for a Reason look to reach the back end. (Photo by Pam Ward)

Harrison

(Continued from Page 1A)

the next funding cycle is to partner with other communities that are less served to improve its overall score.

Doing so, Devlin noted, does not guarantee Harrison will emerge with a grant. He pointed to the Mahoosuc group, which consists of Bethel, Newry, Greenwood, Woodstock, Gilead, Albany and Milton Township. That group also did not land a grant.

Devlin suggested Harrison look to its neighbors and “see what they are doing and if they are making any progress.”

Another direction is looking to improve cell phone coverage, “which is not great,” Devlin said. “It could become a public safety issue a few years down the line.”

“It’s been a long road. It’s been complicated. Our Broadband Committee (which has been working on this issue for past three years) has been willing to travel down that road,” Town Manager Cass Newell said. “How we moved forward is going to be a serious discussion, where do we go from here? Our end goal is to get that segment of our town hooked up better. I am one of those. I have one option, a big satellite dish on my roof or pay $30,000 to run a cable to my house, which I don’t have in my back pocket and most of us probably don’t.”

One task that Newell under took when she arrived under previous Town Manager Tim Pellerin was to look at cell tower locations and coverage. One option would be for the town to site a tower, since it owns some properties that are high points in Harrison.

“We could potentially make money by encouraging tech companies to use the towers, as well,” she said. Newell said a privately-owned tower in town is full, so the need could be there for more tower space. “Towers could be a viable possibility.”

When asked for directional input, Select Board member Matt Frank first thanked Devlin and Newell on their work. Because of the number of people working remotely, broadband access is more critical than ever.

“Broadband is the most important thing in revitalizing Harrison for many years to come,” he said.

A one to two-page broadband update will be drafted and made available to the public before the annual town meeting.

In other business,

One board goal is to review and revise, if necessary, existing town policies. Two items addressed by the Select Board were what information can be posted on the digital sign outside the town office and use of town sand by residents.

Sign says. Select Board member Matt Frank posed whether town service/charitable organizations, such as the Lions’ Club, could post upcoming activities and events.

Currently, the policy allows for non-profit groups to post information, if space is available at that time. What is posted and when falls under the town manager’s discretion. Frank noted that in the past, sign posting was limited to blood drives, Christmas in Harrison, and Harrison Old Home Days.

“We have not used it for the service clubs in town,” he said. “If we are going to discuss this policy, where do you want to draw the line?”

“I don’t read it the same way,” Select Board member Penny Bean responded, noting the policy prevents forprofit groups from posting.

Select Board member Fred Ross questioned whether the policy should address postings by non-profits that refer to religious-related events or meetings.

“Are you saying there might be an issue of separation of church and state?”

Board Chairman Rick Sykes asked. “I hate to say that, but

THE SNOW was her canvas. In keeping with a February theme, 7-year-old Capri Allen, of Harrison, uses red food coloring to paint a heart in the snow. Snowpainting was one of the activities offered during the 2023 Winter Fest hosted by the Harrison Recreation Department and held at the RADR Field of Dreams on Sunday. Other activities included cardboard sledding, ice bowling, snow sculpting, going through an obstacle course and warming up by the fire pit. (De Busk Photo)

I think that could be true,” Ross said.

Town Manager Cass Newell asked that what ultimately goes onto the board does so under the manager’s discretion “because there is only so much room.” The digital program only allows four to five slides “to flip through,” and “if we need operational things for the town on there, I need to be able to include those.”

“It can be a slippery slope,” Frank added. “I hope we don’t see people’s birthdays up there.”

Frank noted that the Lions would decline posting information about their monthly Texas Hold’em tournaments, feeling it would be inappropriate to use a town sign to publicize gambling.

“There are people in the community who have issues with gambling, and so I would not want to put that up on the sign,” he said. “A pancake breakfast is different.”

Newell said promoters of the summer concert held at the RADR Complex were extremely disappointed that the event could not be posted on the sign. She informed the promoters of the town’s policy and its limitations. Newell felt the clearer the policy is, the easier it will be for her to give out information to those who inquire.

The Board unanimously revised the policy to read, “Events and functions of intown, non-profit organizations may be posted at the discretion of the town manager.”

Two Buckets. Frank said the town’s policy has been limited residents to two 5-gallon buckets of sand, and this restriction should be spelled out in the policy.

“I don’t see it in the policy,” he said. “It should be or generally understood there is limitations on free sand.”

Newell pointed out the existing policy allows “a reasonable amount of sand for personal use.” She felt the two 5-gallon limit could be added to that policy statement.

Public Services Director

Andy Ward said that specific language would eliminate some folks backing up a pick-up truck and filling the bed with free sand. Sand is available at the Transfer Station and the Public Works garage. Ward noted that public sand is outside of the PW garage area on Carsley Road.

Ross questioned if two 5-gallon buckets was too limited, seeing some people will sand a walkway or part of a driveway for an elderly neighbor, who is unable.

“Two 5-gallon buckets don’t give you too much sand,” he said. “I realize some people take advantage of this.”

Frank responded, “We are between a rock and a hard place. There are people who sand as a business and should be going out and buying their sand. If we don’t put a limit on it, they will be coming and taking it from the town, which the taxpayers are paying a lot of money for. There is nothing in here (the policy) that says you can’t go back

and get more. Where do you draw the line? How much is enough and how much is taking advantage? I don’t have a good answer to that question.”

“I agree we have to draw a line, but there needs to be some discretion in some cases. I don’t know how you do that without playing favorites,” Ross responded.

Manager Newell said if there are situations more sand is needed, a conversation could be had with her and PSD Ward. She did not feel “exceptions” should be written into the policy.

“It’s happened in the past, people do come with trucks and come at times when there is no one there to monitor them. Being outside the (PW) gates, it’s an honesty policy,” said Newell adding that in some cases, those individuals took the entire pile. Newell recommended limiting sand amounts.

“Whatever you limit it to, it does cost the town money. I am all for helping your neighbors.” Newell also noted that neighboring towns also use the two 5-gallon restriction.

Chairman Sykes felt the two-bucket limit will not solve the problem of individuals loading a pick-up truck due to monitoring issues. He likes the current policy term, “reasonable.”

The revision passed 3-2 (Sykes, Bean against).

Crystal Lake Dam update. PSD Ward recently met with the contractor who said delays have been caused by personnel matters and parts issues.

PW has sand bagged, fenced the area and posted “No Trespassing” signs.

The gates are 90% complete, and should be finished shortly.

“We should see plenty of activity there in a few weeks,” Ward said. The hope is to complete the project by the end of March, particularly before the snow/ice melts and spring rains arrive, which would make working in that area very difficult.

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By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Jewlz

Beyond Hair moved to its new space the day after Valentines.

The business was never closed. The employees worked all day on Feb. 14, moved the necessities to the new location after hours, and then reopened on Feb. 15.

“We didn’t shut down at all. We just stayed open and moved overnight basically. Everything was new, which made it easier to move,” owner Nicole Cox-Landers said. “I upgraded all the equipment — all the styling chairs, shampoo bowls, all of our equipment is new.”

One of the pluses of being in the new building is a better flow of space, she said.

“The new location will provide a better atmosphere. It is more personable. It is just us up here. It is a more intimate setting for our customers,” she said.

Both the clients and the staff are already appreciative of the new space.

“Everyone is loving it. I haven’t heard any complaints so that is good,” CoxLanders said.

“I love it. It has been working really well. It is a breath of fresh air,” she said.

Everyone is feeling eager to show off the new location to the public.

An open house is scheduled for Monday, March 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. in order to allow people to see the space. There will be refreshments, a product giveaway, and a raffle,”

“We are accepting new clients. So if someone is looking for a new stylist or whatever, they can show up,”

she said.

Cox-Landers has owned Jewlz Beyond Hair for seven years. This will be the third location since she took over ownership of the business, which has been in existence for almost 20 years.

Cox-Landers owns another business called Lakeside Nutrition, which has been located off Main Street in Bridgton for about three years. The plan is to open a second Lakeside Nutrition store in the unit next door to Jewlz.

Lakeside sells “healthy, energy iced teas and protein shakes in more than 50 flavors,” according to CoxLanders.

“It should be by April that we’ll have the other location next door,” she said. Did she ever envision herself as a business-woman?

“I wanted to do hair. It kind of feel in my lap— owning the business. My

grandparents were businessowners. My mom was a business-owner. Maybe, that was natural for that to happen,” she said.

“If I have something in my head. I will generally make it happen. I am determined. I broke my finger. The doctor said I can’t do hair. That was 5 weeks ago, and I’ve been figuring out how to do hair with a broken finger,” she said.

The opportunity to relocate came along when Ted Shane and Jocelyn O’Rourke Shane approached her, saying they were building a twounit plaza on their property off Route 302.

“They are clients of mine. They approached me about it. They said they were going to build the building. It would be perfect for both of your businesses there. We agreed,” she said.

“It’s better to have both the businesses together, side

by side. It’s more personal because it is just me up there and not four other businesses like the plaza,” she said.

“All the same services as before: hair, nails, lashes and facials. Tanning is coming but it is not hooked up yet,” she said.

“It has been very much updated with all new equipment and a whole new look,” she said.

Take first step toward college

By Michelle Gayne, SAD 61/72 Adult Ed

Director

One way we describe what we do in Adult Education is serving as the guidance department for the community. For those who withdrew from high school, and even for those who completed high school, Adult Education programs exist to serve their communities in helping them to get back into the educational waters. The Adult Education program here at Lake Region and Fryeburg area not only helps people to earn their high school credential, but also to keep on learning!

If you are thinking of enrolling in college, consider enrolling in one or more of our free spring academic courses. Feeling a little rusty with your

math, reading, and writing skills? We can help!

Our pre-college reading and writing course focuses on preparing students for reading and writing at the college level as measured by the ACCUPLACER post-secondary placement exam. Written assignments and readings will be analyzed and assessed in one-on-one sessions with the instructor. Students will discover comprehension skills and reading strategies to understand

college texts of different types. They will write short essays from different rhetorical modes and learn how to edit their writing by applying the conventions of grammar and mechanics. The connection of reading and writing will be emphasized. This class is offered in Naples and online, and you can start anytime!

Everyone can do math! Our pre-college math course is designed for students who want to brush up on their math skills or seek to boost their ACCUPLACER scores for college entry. This course will review arithmetic, including factoring, fractions, percentages, and word problems. Students will also review algebra concepts, statistics, and probability. Students have time for practicing skills and asking questions. Blended learning opportunities offer a combination of online learning and live instruction to help provide

the most flexibility for students seeking to further their education. Start anytime!

Our college success course will focus on the essential skills of a successful college student. Highlighted topics include study skills, time management, decision-making strategies, financial literacy, career pathways exploration, and building the writing skills necessary for academic readiness. This class fulfills a required college graduation credit at both Southern Maine Community College and Central Maine CC. This class runs from March 1 to April 12. Call or e-mail us today to register!

Don’t forget to register for two, free, informative financial aid sessions as well! Maria McDougal from FAME (Finance Authority of Maine) will facilitate two, free talks on March 1 (Paying for College) and March 7 (Completing the FAFSA). Each of these talks will begin at 6 p.m. and will be held in Naples at the Adult Education building behind Lake Region High School. Call, e-mail, or visit our program website today! Tel. 207-627-4291, website adulted@lakeregionschools.org

Beverly Brooks, LRVC Culinary Arts student

Masons’ Voc Student of Month

The Masons’ Vocational Student of the Month for February from Lake Region Vocational Center is senior Beverly Brooks of Denmark.

Parent: Jennifer Hicks

Siblings: Alyssa Johnson

Hobbies: I enjoy baking

What program are you in at the Vocational Center?

I am in the Culinary Arts II program.

What do you like most about your program? I like how everyone connects and all the friendships it creates.

What are your plans after graduation? I plan to either go to college or take a year off to work first.

What career goal(s) do you have? I plan to work or own my own bakery.

Who or what inspired you to pursue this path? I loved cooking with my Dad, who passed away, so I just wanted to keep going and keep all the memories.

What advice would you like to give future students? Stay out of drama and keep your circle of friends small.

College notebook

James Louko of Raymond has been named to the Saint Anselm College Dean’s List for the fall semester. To be eligible for this honor, a student must have achieved a grade point average of 3.4 or better in the semester with at least 12 credits of study which award a letter grade. James is an International Business and Economics double major in the class of 2024.

Duncan Hurd of Harrison, a student at Northern Vermont University in Vermont, was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2022 semester. Students who achieve between a 3.50 and 3.99 semester average are placed on the Dean’s List.

Indoor Track

(Continued from Page 6A)

great for him to get to this stage and do well,” Coach Snow said. “He ran a 0.1 second PR in the 200 meters (24.67, good for 16th) toward the end of the meet to cap off a great season.”

Miles Burr of Mt. Desert Island set a new state record in the 200 meters at 22.34, topping the mark set by Greely’s Nate Martin of 22.67 in 2009.

Rewinding all the way to the beginning of the meet, Taylor Spearrin was clean through 5-6 and made 5-8 (his PR) on his second attempt in the high jump. He had decent jumps at 5-10, but missed all three and settled for the 8th place medal. He was seeded 9th in the event. Corbin Flewelling of Old Town won the event at 6-2.

The New England Championships will be on Saturday, March 4 at the Reggie Lewis Center at Roxbury Community College. Campbell is in and LR Coaches Mark Snow and Dana Caron are hopeful one or two more Lakers will join her. The winter is not over yet!

Alpine results

(Continued from Page 6A)

BOYS’ STANDINGS: Falmouth 13, Lake Region 29, Freeport 48, Windham 66

Run

Run

Olaf Handsome young Olaf is about four months old and came in with a group of kitties after their owner passed away.

1T8

to us because his owner was having a hard time managing his diabetes. This handsome guy is so charismatic and curious! He loves attention and to explore. Tiko is good with other cats and children. He is good with dogs as long as it’s not on his “turf.” Tiko is diabetic is going to require insulin injections twice daily. Visit our website at harvesthills.org to see other dogs and cats waiting for a new home!

This adorable young man hasn’t spent a lot of time around humans, but has the potential to be a wonderful house cat with some time and patience. He is food motivated, and can be playful. Olaf likes other kitties, and is young enough he may adjust to a friendly dog. Older cat-savvy children and a quiet home would be best. Visit our website at harvesthills.org to see other dogs and cats waiting for a new home!

FACE — Jewlz Beyond Hair owner Nicole Cox-Landers poses behind the counter at

GOOD SPORTS — The Lake Region girls’ and boys’ indoor track & field teams captured sportsmanship honors. Left, Coach Dana Caron along with Campbell Johnson, Abigail Roberts and Coach Mark Snow. Above, Lakers Grady Kemp, Ezra Gronlund, Taylor Spearrin and Tristan Cormier.

Johnson, Roberts capture medals at States

It was a strong showing by the Lakers at Monday’s Class B State Indoor Track & Field championships held at Bates College in Lewiston.

Two LR girls and four

boys competed in the meet and the entire team was awarded the sportsmanship awards for the regular season.

“We have a small team and getting the award

Alpine racing times

Indoor Track & Field

shows me how extraordinary our team’s sportsmanship must be. I thank the team for their sportsmanship. It makes me proud,” Coach Mark Snow said.

Campbell Johnson was Lake Region’s highest finisher with her second-place finish in the high jump. She was clean through 5-2, tying her school record. Only Freeport’s Avery Baker-Schlendering bettered Campbell with her 5-4 clearance.

“Campbell was having extremely high blood sugar early in the meet before and during the long jump. Then came crashing down (300 points) to fight off low blood sugar mid-meet during the high jump. It makes it difficult to perform and I was very impressed with how Campbell battled

through it,” Coach Snow noted.

She finished sixth in the long jump with her fifth-round effort of 15-4 (Natasha Monreal of Bucksport won with a 17-1 jump).

She triple-jumped a personal record (PR) by 2 feet, finishing sixth at 33-feet (Monreal of Bucksport won the event at 34-7.25). She was seeded 11th in that event.

Abigail Roberts was Lake Region’s other multiple medalist, placing third in the 800 meters in 2:29.39 (Cary Drake of York won in 2:18.03) and fifth in the 2-mile in 12:38.05 (Drake won in 11:35.06). Abigail had consistent splits in both races and was able to move up from 7th to 5th in the 2-mile over the last five

laps.

“We will find out later in the week if Abigail qualified for New Englands in the 800 meters. Campbell is already confirmed in the high jump. Both girls are longer shots in their other event,” Coach Snow reported.

With 24 points, the Laker girls were ninth out of 28 schools. Grady Kemp had the highest finish for the Laker boys, placing 5th in the 800 meters in 2:07.91 (James Cognata of St. Dom’s won the event in 1:58.96).

Grady was seeded 10th and ran off the strong early pace set by teammate Ezra Gronlund. Ezra and Grady were in section 1 of the event. Grady passed Ezra at the bell and went on to win the section just off his PR. Ezra finished 11th overall in 2:09.82, also just

off his PR.

Grady also ran in the 2-mile where he was seeded 12th. He moved up from 12th to 10th (10:49.82) during the late stages of the race, finishing about 6 seconds out of the medals. William Hileman of Bucksport won the event in 10:17.77.

Alec Freitas was only 0.09 seconds away from making the finals and medaling in the 55-meter hurdles (he was ninth in the prelims at 8.69). Nolan Garey of Poland won the event in 7.62, a new state record eclipsing Donald Boyer of Foxcroft, who set the fastest time in 2013 at 7.68. “It hurts that he came so close, but Alex improved so much during the season in the hurdles and the 200 meters that I think it was

REACHES THE PODIUM — Fryeburg Academy’s Joey Fusco reached the medal podium by placing fourth at the Class B State Wrestling championships in the 138-pound weight class. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Fusco)

RAIDER REPS at the Class B State Indoor Track & Field championships held at Bates College in Lewiston on Monday were Jacob Adams (left) and Zack Emery.

Adams rewrites

FA record book

Jacob Adams closed out his Fryeburg Academy indoor track & field career in record fashion.

At the State Class B championships on Monday at Bates College in Lewiston, Jacob placed second in the long jump with a mark of 21-7.50 — a new personal record and a new Fryeburg Academy mark. Jacob likely qualifies to attend the New England Championships to be held on March 4 at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.

Senior Corbin Flewelling of Old Town won the long jump in 21-8.

Jacob also competed in the 55-meter dash, turning in a time of 6.94 in the prelim for 10th overall out of a field of 21. Miles Burr of Mt. Desert Island won the event in 6.51, a new state record, topping the mark set in 2013 by Denzel Tomaszewski of Wells at 6.53.

Junior Zack Emery, in his first state meet, posted a 9.54 in the prelims of the 55-meter hurdles for 17th place. Nolan Garey of Poland won the event in state record time of 7.62, breaking the mark of 7.68 set in 2013 by Donald Boyer.

Those finishes by Jacob and Zack landed Fryeburg Academy in 18th place out of 26 schools.

Regional Sports

Icy shooting causes early exits

• Medomak pulls away from Lakers

By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer

PORTLAND — When Coach Doug Banks is asked what happened to his Laker girls in their Class B quarterfinal loss Saturday, he could easily point to one stat as a big reason.

4-of-22.

Although his club had struggled from time to time at the foul line during the regular season, Coach Banks remained dumbfounded that his club shot so poorly from the charity stripe in the 41-31 loss to Medomak Valley.

“If we had made just half of our free throws and had a few shots fall, our season wouldn’t be over after one playoff game,” the first-year coach said. “As a coach and a big fan of these girls, it’s beyond frustrating that we did not play well — not even close to what we are capable of.”

The Lakers fell behind 4-0 to start the game, but seemed to shake some jitters and found a rhythm as senior Melissa Mayo (8 points, 7 rebounds) connected on a 3-pointer and later scored on an offensive rebound as teammate Bella Smith kept the play alive with a tip.

The Lakers closed out the quarter with an 8-2 run as Smith showed a quick burst along the end line to beat her defender for a bucket, and on the next possession, pulled the trigger on a straight-away 3-pointer that barely moved the twines.

Mayo closed out the frame with a corner 3-pointer to put the Lakers up 14-9.

Quarter 2 was a nightmare for the Lakers. They failed to score a field goal, and went 6 minutes and 40 seconds without scoring a point until Smith finally ended the drought by sinking one of two foul shots. LR was 1 of 10 from the foul line.

“We lost our confidence, and we panicked,” Coach Banks said. Medomak played aggressively on the defensive end, rarely giving Mayo — the Laker’s best sharpshooter — any clean looks. Meanwhile, Panther junior center Maya Canon was a vacuum inside. Canon cleaned up every missed Laker shot, hauling down 9 rebounds in the second period. She finished the game with 21 boards and a blocked shot, while adding 6 points.

If there was a silver lining to scoring just one point in the quarter, the Lakers returned to the locker room tied with the Panthers, 15-15. Medomak also struggled scoring the basket, shooting a feeble 4-of-10 from the foul line, while sophomore guard Kytana Williamson (14 points, 3 rebounds) netted the lone field goal, a pull-up jumper early in the quarter.

“What happened in the second? I don’t know. I’ve watched the game tape, and I still can’t explain it. I thought we played out of control at times, and I don’t think we played with the confidence we showed all season,” Coach Banks said. “Defensively, we did a good job. The girls rotated well, and made it difficult on them to get good looks. The Medomak coach told me after the game that they hadn’t seen that kind of defensive effort all season.”

Trying to settle his group down, Coach Banks told his players to relax, have some fun and run the offense “and good things will happen.”

Bella Smith (10 points) continued her strong play, scoring the team’s first 4 points to keep the game tied.

Panther sophomore forward Audrey Jackson seemed to light the offensive spark Medomak was looking for when she knocked down a corner 3-pointer. It triggered a 14-4 run as the Panthers built the game’s biggest lead, 33-23.

LR managed a nifty drive to the rim by Margo Tremblay (6 points) and guard Abby Lavoie (4 points) ended an 11-0 MV run with a steal and lay-up with 29.1 left on the clock.

Knowing their season was on the line, the Lakers dug deep and played with greater scrappiness in the fourth quarter. Mayo made two outstanding passes resulting in lay-ups by Lavoie and center Ava Smith, who had a tough time getting to the rim against the stingy Panther front line of Canon, Addison McCormick and Madilyn Simmons. Smith,

• Perry tough for Raiders to handle

By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer

PORTLAND — Fryeburg Academy had no answer for Marshwood senior big man Andrew Perry.

Perry scored a game-high 17 points, dominated the lane with three blocked shots and hauling down 13 rebounds to lead the third-ranked Hawks (14-5) to a 51-35 win over the Raiders (9-10) in the Class A South quarterfinals Saturday at the Banks Exposition Building in Portland.

“Andrew Perry is a heck of a basketball player. He can beat you from the inside and from 3. I thought we did a really good job not giving him any looks from 3 (he sank just one trey), but he was able to finish inside through double teams,” FA Coach Dan Thomas said. “He’s a strong kid and he played a big game. I thought Lorenzo Catana did a great job on him and our defense was working, but if he’s gonna make shots through double teams, what can you do?”

Marshwood had four players to reach double digits, while Catana was the lone Raider to reach that level, scoring 13 points, including three 3-pointers.

In a quirky start, Fryeburg fell behind 2-0 before the ball was put into play. As players, coaches and fans faced the flag for the National Anthem, the scoreboard read, Raiders, Team Fouls 1.

Initially, it appeared the scoreboard operator had incorrectly placed a 1 rather than a 0. No mistake. FA had been whistled for a technical foul. According to an MPA official, a Raider had dunked the ball during pre-game warm-ups — a violation, which carried two foul shots for the Hawks and possession. Cooper Alguier made both foul shots, and Perry scored in the lane for a quick 4-0 Hawk lead.

“The players and I were aware of the rule. We talked about it early in the season and never had an issue with it, so I didn’t make a note of reminding us of it again,” Coach Thomas said. “Big game. Big arena. I’m sure (Joao) Orlando just got excited. I never saw him dunk in any warm-ups this year, including the game at the Expo.”

Senior guard Bryce Richardson knocked down a corner 3-pointer and Orlando netted a shot in the lane to put Fryeburg up 5-4. A baseline drive and floater by Gunnar Saunders (7 points, 6 rebounds) gave FA a 7-6 lead, which would be the last time the Raiders would be ahead.

Jason Singer (11 points, 6 rebounds) scored an inside hoop to put the Hawks up 8-7 after one quarter.

FA went nearly five minutes without a hoop as Perry blocked a pair of drives to the rim, and contested other attempts which took Raider shooters out of rhythm.

“He (Perry) did make some great defensive plays for them. I tried to encourage our guys to continue to attack, but his presence may have gotten into some guys’ minds,” Coach Thomas said. “We only shot one free throw the whole game. I would say it was more the discipline of their zone defense and their size down low than it was a couple of blocks early. They are a great defensive team.”

FA did not go to the foul line through three quarters, finally getting one shot late on a Saunders make and a foul.

Meanwhile, the Hawks went to the line 7 times in the first half, connecting on five shots. They were 7-of-12 for the game.

Fryeburg finally ended their scoring drought on a Richardson to Orlando connection. Cam Johnson’s corner 3-ball trimmed the deficit to 16-14, and Catana’s 3-pointer tied the game 17-17. Johnson’s hustle crashing the boards gave FA the extra possession and Catana cashed in.

Marshwood took a 19-17 lead into the break as Singer

BLOCKED — Lake Region senior Melissa Mayo blocks a shot in the lane during second half action against Medomak Valley. (Rivet Photos)

GETTING SOME AIR to pull the trigger on a shot is Marshwood’s Jason Singer against Fryeburg Academy defender Bryce Richardson.

FLOATER FOR TWO — Raider Gunnar Saunders just manages to get a shot over the out-stretched arm and hand of Marshwood’s Andrew Perry.

APPLYING PRESSURE on the ball is Lake Region guard Abby Lavoie against Medomak Valley forward Addison McCormick.

TIMING A BLOCK is Fryeburg Academy’s Cam Johnson as a Marshwood player heads to the rim for a lay-up chance.

TOO TALL, Page 8A

LAKERS, Page 8A

February 23, 2023 The Bridgton News, Page 7A

Lakers unable to find range

(Continued from Page 7A)

who reached double-digits on most nights in the regular season, was limited to just 3 points, while hauling down 11 rebounds.

With 4:05 left, the Lakers scratched back to make it 35-31 as Mayo dished to Tremblay for a soft runner in

the lane.

MV’s Williamson ultimately hit the dagger shot, making a soft floater from the baseline.

Bella Smith saw a hook shot rattle off the rim, but had another crack at slicing the MV lead by earning a trip to the foul line. There would be

no change in LR’s shooting luck, however, as both shots rolled off the rim and out.

MV kept the door open to a Laker fantastic finish, missing the front end of two 1-and-1 chances.

Laker reserve Olivia England confidently hoisted a 3-pointer with 1:13 left, but the ball teased Laker Nation, appearing set to fall through the netting, only to cruelly bounce back out.

“Had that shot fallen, it would have gotten really interesting,” Coach Banks said.

The Panthers punched their ticket to the next round as Sara Nelson and Williamson each sank a pair of foul shots.

As a dejected group of Lakers headed back to the locker room, Coach Banks looked around the building bearing his father’s name with one thought in mind, “We’ll be back.”

“13 wins, we had an

incredible season. We’re a young team, and if we can take the next step in our development, we’ll be back to challenge next season,” he said. “I just feel incredibly bad for our seniors — Melissa (Mayo), who had to put in a lot of hard work to come back from her (knee) injury, Olivia (England) and Carly (Dyer). They worked so hard. I just feel I let them down.”

Stat Lines

Turnovers: Lakers 19, Medomak 19

Free Throws: Lakers 4-22, Medomak 12-26

Rebounds: Lakers 26, Medomak 37

Records: Lakers 13-6, Medomak 13-6

Next: Medomak (13-7) lost to top-ranked Oceanside (20-0) 49-20 in the semifinals. The Mariners will play second-ranked Spruce Mountain for the Class B South title. Spruce beat thirdranked Wells, 38-24.

Perry too tall a task for Raiders to handle

(Continued from Page 7A)

scored in the lane.

“I told the guys (at halftime) we needed to stop playing from the NBA 3-point line and we had to be more aggressive against their zone. Attack seams, get the ball to the middle and attack from there,” Coach Thomas said. “We were getting pretty good looks all game, but more missed than went in and that’s the way the ball bounces some-

times. Our defense was working. Holding Marshwood to 19 points in a half was excellent, so we didn’t make a lot of adjustments on that end.”

In most games, the third quarter is pivotal.

And, it proved to be for the Raiders.

FA managed just three field goals — an inside hoop by Orlando, and two Catana jumpers (one a 3-pointer) — as Marshwood took command as Perry scored 7 points to lead a 15-7 run.

“Like I said, the shots we were getting were shots I know we can make. We kept our turnover numbers (nine) down this game which was huge, but we simply didn’t make enough shots. We missed some easy ones and Marshwood came out and made some tough ones,” Coach Thomas said. “Next thing you know, we’re down 7 then 10 and it seems like a huge lead because of how disciplined Marshwood is. Some 50/50 balls and momentum plays didn’t end up our way and next thing we knew we were down 10 heading into the fourth.”

Although Catana and Johnson netted 3-pointers, and Saunders added an oldfashioned 3-point play, FA saw the Hawks pull away scoring six times in close.

Although the Raiders had used full-court pressure during the season to ramp up the game’s speed and generate fast-break chances, Coach Thomas decided to play half-court defense.

“After watching a lot of

Marshwood film, and knowing how hard our guys were gonna have to work in the half-court to get stops, I decided not to apply a ton of pressure this game. I respected the ball handling and poise of their guards and didn’t want Perry to get any easy looks off broken pressure,” he said. “I probably should’ve pulled the trigger and got our guys up a little sooner, but some of our main guys logged a lot of tough minutes and I think we got fatigued late in the game.”

It was discouraging to be one-and-done, but Coach Thomas was pleased with his club’s overall effort.

“I’ve watched the game back and I’m so proud of the way our guys played and battled defensively. I didn’t see one bad shot through three quarters of basketball. We got shots in the rhythm of the offense and shots that I know our guys are capable of making, but enough just didn’t go down. Credit to Andrew Perry where credit is due, he dominated that game on both ends of the floor and sometimes, you just run into a great player,” he said.

For seniors Bryce Richardson, Cam Johnson, Lorenzo Catana, Joao Orlando and Geri Daiu, the sound of the final horn putting an end to their high school hoop careers was disappointing. Yet, the coach was proud of their accomplishments, again reaching a tourney appearance at the Expo.

“I loved coaching this team this season. They never gave up or doubted each other for a second. I’m sad to see our senior class go, but am so thankful for all they gave to this program. You know, we lost Will Hallam, who was averaging 20 and 10 down the stretch for us last year, before the season even started with a football injury and these guys stepped up and finished with the same record we had last year,” Coach Thomas noted. “It says a lot about these guys to bring that type of consistency and that never give up mentality that they did. We are going to miss Bryce, Camden, Orlando and Geri a whole lot, but we are bringing back a ton next year and I am already excited to get back to work with these guys.” Stat Lines

Turnovers: Raiders 9, Marshwood 6

Free Throws: Raiders 1-1, Marshwood 7-12.

Rebounds: Raiders 22, Marshwood 24

FA top rebounders: Saunders 6, Catana 5, Orlando 4

Scorers: Catana 13, Saunders 7, Orlando 6, Johnson 6, Richardson 3.

Less Sugar = More Health

Americans consume three times more added sugar than experts recommend, taking a toll on our hearts and contributing to the rise of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Reduce your intake of these common culprits: �

TOUGH ASSIGNMENT — FA’s Lorenzo Catana looks to keep Marshwood’s Andrew Perry away from the basket during Saturday’s quarterfinal.

FULL FOCUS — Laker Bella Smith elevates for a baseline shot.

WHEN DISAPPOINTMENT STRIKES — After the final horn, senior Melissa Mayo is confronted by her dad, John, a Laker assistant coach.

Opinion & Comment

Dietitian’s Corner

by Donna Dodge Registered Dietitian & Nutrition Consultant

Fighting midage weight gain

A few weeks ago, a reader posted the following question:

“I went through menopause a few years ago. Since then, it’s been nearly impossible to keep from gaining weight, especially around my middle. I haven’t changed my eating habits, but the weight just seems to find me. I know it’s hormonal, but what can I do?”

Having gone through menopause myself I can attest to its challenges. As women, we approach middle age confident that the wisdom gleaned through real life experiences will guide us seamlessly into the next phase of our lives. But, Mother Nature picks this very moment to throw us a curve ball — menopause, and with it, an undeserved propensity for weight gain.

At around age 50, our ovaries stop producing estrogen. This drop in estrogen can cause extremely unpleasant symptoms ranging from hot flashes, depression, irritability, anxiety, insomnia and weight gain. Despite these, I feel most of us are surprisingly resilient, taking it all “in stride,” except perhaps for the weight gain which can be intolerable.

So, what’s going on? Why does menopause cause us to gain weight? First, our metabolic rate slows, reducing our requirement for calories. Second, as natural levels of estrogen drop, our body begins to increase fat deposits. Fat produces a form of estrogen called estrone, which counteracts some of the natural decline in estrogen. But, it isn’t all doom and gloom; we still maintain control over the situation, so weight gain is not inevitable.

Some of these hormones can be produced by our adrenal glands, which gradually take over the production from the ovaries of estrogen, testosterone and progesterone. To maintain healthy adrenal glands — and thereby adequate hormone production — we should eat nutrients to boost adrenal health. The best choices include animal products such as egg yokes, butter, meat and fish, whole dairy products, avocados, both white and sweet potatoes, pistachios, and all fruits and vegetables. It’s worth mentioning here that trans fats (hydrogenated oils) should be avoided as they interfere with adrenal hormone production.

Also, an imbalance in hormones can be triggered when too many starches and/or sugars are consumed. This results in excessive insulin production and, yes you guessed it — weight gain.

To simplify things, I recommend a low-carbohydrate Mediterranean diet approach. It contains adequate amounts of animal protein, good fats, fresh fruits, and vegetables all of which provide the vitamins, minerals and enzymes, and other raw materials that are used for adequate hormone production. The lower carb version limits starches and minimizes large fluctuations in insulin allowing us to burn body fat rather than store it. And as an added benefit, it promotes stronger bones and a lower risk of heart disease and breast cancer. Following this plan will go a long way in reducing symptoms and preventing unwanted pounds. Just as our ancestors had to forage for edible foods, we must forage for nourishing foods in a forest of junk and empty calories.

For those who prefer an even easier, simpler strategy, I recommend limiting starch to one serving per meal, and filling in the gaps with foods recommended above. The key is to use no more than three servings of starch in any given day. You will be rewarded with little to no gain around your middle, I can almost guarantee this.

I consider menopause a gift. Unlike all other species, human females enjoy a long period later in life in which we are free from the role of bearing children. This gift can offer

Letters

BER Thank you

To The Editor: This past Saturday, Feb. 18, the Bridgton Easy Riders had their annual Poker Rally and Chinese Auction at the Bridgton Community Center. It was very successful consider-

In Ye Olden Times

by Michael Davis BHS Assistant Director

The Cost of Living, 1917

Howdy neighbor!

First off, I hope I saw you at Winter Carnival. I know I saw a great many there; indeed, between the music, carriage rides, skating, chili contest, skiing, craft fair, Freezing for a Reason, fireworks and Ice Queen Pageant – congratulations are here due to Miss Sabrina Johns, our new Queen for a day — I’d say just about everyone who was able, made it to at least some part of the festivities. I am told the Chamber of Commerce annually prints 1,500 buttons and usually sells them all. It sure felt that way this year. Teams from as far off as New York State came up to take a dip in old Highland Lake this year, and I’m glad we could give them so wintery a welcome as we did. Usually out-of-staters from the Big Apple only get the cold shoulder when they come up in summer… I kid of course, we welcome them all, and a warm welcome it was; though not warm enough I fear to offset the shivers earned from a dip in the lake. I did notice the hole cut in the ice actively starting to refreeze around the edges as team after team summoned up the courage to take the plunge. Already folks in the know are talking about next year and laying plans for another Carnival, which promises to be bigger and better in just about every way. I, for one, am very proud to live in a town where these sorts of festivities are still cherished, for days like Winter Carnival hold in them a rare and wonderful opportunity. How many smiling children, laughing families, and ardent couples strolling hand-in-hand on the ice, got to enjoy a day of such spirited entertainment last Saturday, as would never have been possible otherwise? It makes the deepest, dreariest part of winter so much brighter, and I know many here are thankful for it.

But for today, turning from the carnival to a more pressing issue, I wanted to share a very interesting and certainly very

passionate argument, which was made by the editors of The News in their number of February 23, 1917, on the subject of food prices. Then, in the midst of the Great War, food prices were also rising rapidly across America and creating a difficult situation for millions of families; meanwhile the explanation from the government, that the cause for this inflation could be laid at the feet of the ongoing war, was an argument growing remarkable stale among the public. So, newspapers across America took up the sentiment first expressed in the Boston Journal, in publishing a tirade against the dangers of unchecked inflation, or what they called instead, “The Enemy

COST, Page 4B

ing Mother Nature wasn’t working with us. We would like to thank the Town of Bridgton and supporting clubs for all the support that we received. We would like to thank all the businesses that donated items to our Chinese Auction.

Thank you to: Noble House, Little Mountain Store, Firefly Boutique, Renys, Bridgton Books, Ruby Food, Macdonald Motors, Bridgton House of Pizza, Hannaford, Black Horse Tavern, Bavarian

Chocolates, Hayes True Value Hardware, Paris Farmer’s Union, Lampron’s, Beth’s Kitchen, Warren’s Florist, Unc’l Lunker’s, Colonial Mast Campground, Sportshaus, Mountain Range Golf, Morning Glory, Pit Stop Grill, New England Environmental Technologies/John and Carle Clement, Tasteful Things, Rolfe Corp., Ancora Italian Kitchen, Dirty Bristles, Sebago Store and many members who also donated items for auction.

This fundraiser helps to maintain the trails in Bridgton and keep the groomers running. We want to thank everyone that helped set up and clean up after the rally. We hope that everyone that came had a great time and we are looking forward to next year’s rally. Thank you to the Bridgton Community Center for allowing us to use your building and for all our meetings.

Bridgton Easy Riders Club

Jackie Barber, secretary

Maine’s COVID response

To The Editor: I read with some interest Jock MacGregor’s letter to the editor, “COVID, Florida, Maine” in the Feb. 16 issue of The Bridgton News since we also chose to spend mid-January through April in Florida to escape the cold.

COVID and how different states reacted to it will remain an issue to debate for years to come, and I’m certain we all will have opinions on the topic. That said, Brevard County did an excellent job arranging the clinics, and everyone in our Florida neighborhood chose to be vaccinated. Most of us also chose to be masked and did much of our “out to eat” dining outdoors or by ordering take out. Several of us did end up with COVID, but due to being vaccinated were only moderately sick.

While there are various points where I disagree with Mr. MacGregor, one point I feel needs to be noted. Florida ended up ranked right in the middle our states, recording 123.3 deaths from COVID per 100,000 population. Maine ended up third best in the whole United States, recording only 33.7 deaths per 100,000.

I thank Governor Mills

and CDC Director Nirav Shah for saving lives.

Stephen Edwards Waterford and Merritt Island, Fla.

Shared values?

To The Editor:

While Congress debates and dithers over budget matters and possible cuts to Social Security and Medicare to help reduce the looming national debit, not enough thought is given in Congress to the billions of dollars in foreign aid that is spent by Congress every year. I’m not referring to the military assistance that has been sent to Ukraine in the last 12 months, although the amount of money involved is financially stunning.

I’m referring to the 3.8 billion U.S. taxpayer dollars sent to Israel every year since 2018 because it is our “partner” in the Middle East and because of our “shared values.” Yes, $3.8 billion, with little discussion in Congress and with no strings attached. This amount was agreed upon during the Obama administration and will continue until 2028 unless Congress can come up with a good reason to end, or to at least condition the handout.

Not only that, to date, the United States has provided

ICE QUEEN OF 2023 WINTER CARNIVAL JUDGES — Jessica Putnam, Ken Murphy and Nick Orgo. The event was sponsored by the Break Room in Bridgton. (Photos courtesy of Ashleigh London Photography)

ICE QUEEN of the 2023 Winter Carnival in Bridgton is Sabrina Johns. The pageant was held last Friday night at the Bridgton Town Hall.

GO RED — Steve Littleson, president and CEO of Central Maine Healthcare (far left) is pictured with Bridgton Hospital team members to publicize Go Red for American Hearth Month. Heart Month activities are being organized by the nationally recognized Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute (CMHVI), where vascular surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists perform cutting-edge procedures and lead their Maine community in the prevention of heart and vascular disease. The team asked that everyone to wear red on Feb. 3, National Wear Red Day, to raise awareness and help eradicate heart disease among women. Team members are continuing to wear red on every Friday in February.

WEIGHT, Page 4B

Opinions

Good Red Versus Bad Red

In the past three gardening columns, I focused on plants that produced striking red colors in the winter (Bunchberry, Winterberry Holly, Red-osier dogwood). These are all native to Maine and are welcome additions to gardens and landscapes.

With the recent frigid temperatures, I began to “see red” as I was isolated to inside activities that included making sure that all faucets were allowed to drip to decrease the chance that pipes would freeze. I had to put on extra layers of clothing just to spend a couple minutes outside to ensure that my birdfeeders had extra food in them, including the safflower seeds that the red cardinals enjoy.

My seeing a bad kind of red occurred when I was snowshoeing on my land earlier this year. I saw some red berries that identified the invasive Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) vine. I also saw some very thick vines climbing up the majestic oak trees and our native pine trees and birches. While many people collect the vines with the red berries on them to use in decorative wreaths, these vines are doing extreme damage to our native plants, shrubs and trees.

The Oriental bittersweet is also known as Asiatic bit-

LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE

Casco Self Storage

Pursuant to the rental agreement between Casco Self Storage and the party named below, their personal property shall become the property of Casco Self Storage on March 1, 2023, in order to satisfy all liens brought on by default of payment.

Jessica Charron, Casco Maine

PUBLIC NOTICE AUCTION NOTICE

Lake Region Safe Storage

Online Auction

Lake Region Safe Storage will be having an online auction for Unit 402, Carland, Fryeburg, Maine, starting on February 24, 2023, to satisfy all liens due to default of payment.

Contact Lake Region Safe Storage at 207-8038497 for more information.

PUBLIC NOTICE

TOWN OF HARRISON

Notice for Spring Road Postings

March 1 through May 1 per MRSA Title 29A Section 2395.

Down the Garden Path

by Nancy Donovan, Ph.D., PT Master Gardener Volunteer

tersweet, Oriental staff vine and climbing spindle berry. The vine is native to China, Japan, and Korea and it is reported that it was brought to the United States in the 1860s as an ornamental plant, and also to control erosion. The website for the Pennsylvania State University Extension Service (https://extension.psu.edu/oriental-bittersweet) reports that this vine is a woody, deciduous, perennial vine that is an “extremely aggressive and damaging invader of natural areas” and that it “…chokes out desirable native plants by smothering them with its dense foliage and strangling

PUBLIC NOTICE

TOWN OF CASCO SITE WALK

4:00 PM

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

2T7

Note: We will post our public ways for load limits, where applicable, per MRSA Title 29A Section 2395. The posting is done to protect our roadways from damage during the Spring thaw cycle. Most roads throughout the rural section of our community are posted and strict compliance has been requested. Should there need to be a use of any posted road, the Town, where applicable with the weather conditions will do their best to facilitate use. State roads Rt. 117, Rt. 35 and Bolsters Mills Road are not posted. 2T8

TOWN OF BRIDGTON

3 CHASE STREET, SUITE 1 BRIDGTON, MAINE 04009

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING

CDBG GRANT FUNDING

The Municipal Officers of the Town of Bridgton will hold a Public Hearing at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday March 14, 2023, on the Community Development Advisory Committee recommendations to the Selectboard for funding the 2023-2024 Community Block Grant applications.

The applications will be made available on the Town website, www.bridgtonmaine.org, and copies will be posted at the Town Office. The meeting will be held in person and remote access will be provided. Information on how to participate remotely will be published at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Please direct any questions to Victoria Hill, Community Development Director at vhill@bridgtonmaine.org or 207-803-9956.

Public Notice

TOWN OF NAPLES NOMINATION PAPERS

The Naples Town Election will take place Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

1T8

Nomination Papers are now available at the Naples Town Office for the following positions:

• Select Board:

Three-year term (2 openings)

• Planning Board:

° Three-year term (1 opening)

° Three-year term - Alternate (2 openings)

• Budget Committee:

° Three-year term (3 openings)

Two-year term (1 opening)

• SAD 61:

Three-year term (1 opening)

• Transfer Station Council:

Two-year term (2 openings)

Completed papers must be returned to the Naples Town Office no later than the close of business Friday, March 24, 2023. Please contact the clerks at 207-693-6364 during normal business hours for more information. 2T7

stems and trunks.” The website for the University of New Hampshire Extension Service adds that as the vine climbs on other plants, shrubs and trees, it restricts access to sunlight, nutrients and water. If allowed to continue to grow, the vines can reach heights of 60 feet with diameters of more than 10 feet. The weight of the vine also increases the vulnerability of native trees during storms.

The website for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry reports that “Thickets of Asiatic bittersweet have the potential to harbor increased tick populations…” Interestingly, the go botany website of the native plant trust specifies that the bittersweet is a liana, which is defined as “…a woody plant with a vine-like growth form.”

The vine is dioecious, meaning that there are female and male plants, with only the female ultimately producing the red berries. In late spring, the female vine produces yellowgreen five-petaled flowers that are less than one-half inch long in clusters of two or three at the joints between the leaves and the stems and along the full length of the stem. In late summer, the leaves of the bittersweet turn yellow, and the berries of the female plants change from green to bright yellow-skinned fruit. This berry will eventually split open in the fall to reveal a bright red fruit/berry. Birds enjoy the REDS, Page 3B

Legals

A Site Walk will be performed by the Casco Planning Board on February 27, 2023, 4 p.m. at 385 Roosevelt Trail, Tax Map 2, Lot 18, in the Town of Casco, Maine, for a car wash, submitted by DM Roma LLC on behalf of R.J.R., LLC. Information is available for viewing at the Casco Code Enforcement Office

Respectfully Submitted by, Mary Tremblay 2T7

Public Notice

TOWN OF DENMARK

Notice of Road Postings

The Town of Denmark Roads are now posted effective February 21, 2023, in accordance with 29-A M.R.S.A Section 2395

This is done to prevent damage to town ways and bridges in the Town of Denmark which may be caused by vehicles of excessive weight, to lesson safety hazards and the risk of injury to the traveling public, to extend the life expectancy of town ways and bridges, and to reduce the public expense of their maintenance and repair. 1T8

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

PUBLIC NOTICE

LOVELL PLANNING BOARD

Public Hearing

The Lovell Planning Board, has scheduled a Public Hearing for March 1, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. This meeting will be held at the Lovell Town Hall, 1133 Main Street, Lovell, Maine. The meeting agenda will include the review of a Conditional Use application submitted by Bridgton Investment Fund, LLC, for the construction of an 8,000 square foot warehouse/distribution facility at 699 Main St. in Lovell.

Heinrich Wurm Chairperson

TOWN OF BRIDGTON

3 CHASE STREET, SUITE 1 BRIDGTON, MAINE 04009

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF ROAD POSTINGS

The Town of Bridgton Roads are now posted in accordance with MRS Title 29-A Section 2395. This is done to protect our roadways from damage during the thaw cycle. The following roads will be posted commencing February 27, 2023 through May 15, 2023. For more information please contact David Madsen, Public Services Director, 207-647-1127 or dmadsen@bridgtonmaine.org

SOUTH BRIDGTON

Burnham Road, Willis Park Road, Ingalls Road, Fosterville Road (to end), Winn Road, Swamp Road, North Road, Raspberry Lane, and Camp Pondicherry Road, Pinhook Road, Wildwood and Moose Cove Lodge.

WEST BRIDGTON

Mountain Road, Stack Em Inn, Hio Ridge Road, Sam Ingalls Road, Whitney Road, Highland Pines Road, Millbrook Road, Harmon Road, Isaac Stevens Road, Kilgore Road, Cedar Drive, Keene Lane, Kendall Ham, East Pondicherry Road, West Pondicherry Road, and South Bay Road (Knights Hill Development).

NORTH BRIDGTON

Highland Road, Chadbourne Hill Road, Upper Ridge Road, Middle Ridge Road, Monk Road, Kimball Road, Highland Point Development.

VILLAGE AREA

Kansas Road, Lower Main Street, Pond Road, Dugway Road, Mt. Henry Road, Zion Hill Road, Smith Ave., Meadow Street, Iredale Street, Chase Street, Elm Street, Mechanic Street, Nulty Street, Kennard Street, Bacon Street, Church Street, Cottage Street, Gage Street, Fowler, Walker, Creamery and Pleasant Streets.

https://bridgtonmaine.org/notices/ road-postings-2-27-23-5-15-23/ 1T8

PUBLIC NOTICE

United Ambulance Bridgton, a private not-for-profit Paramedic licensed EMS service, is applying to the Maine Board of Emergency Medical Services to license United Ambulance Bridgton as a ground-ambulance transporting service at the Basic Life Support level. This permits providing care at the Paramedic level on some calls, with primary service areas of Bridgton, Denmark, Harrison, and Sweden, Maine. There is no change to the way the public will request emergency services. Citizens should continue to call 911 for all emergencies. The public is invited to make comment regarding the proposed application. Comments must be received by the Board of Emergency Medical Services within 30 calendar days of the publication of this notice. Comments must be mailed to Maine EMS, 152 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0152. 1T8

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 NAPLES

Planning Board Meeting

The Naples Planning Board will hold a meeting on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. The meeting will be in person at the Naples Town Hall Board Room located at 15 Village Green Lane starting at 6 p.m. On the Agenda:

1. New Business

A change in use for the business located at 974 Roosevelt Trail (Tax Map U25, Lot 36)

2. Tabled Business An application for a proposed solar farm located at 245 River Road (Tax Map R11, Lot 75) Plans may be viewed online at www.townofnaples.org

The public is welcome to attend the meeting. Any questions or concerns please contact codeoffice@ townofnaples.org

This week’s game solutions

2T8

Israel $150 billion (current, or non-inflation-adjusted, dollars) in bilateral assistance and missile defense funding since Israel declared itself a nation. At present, almost all U.S. bilateral aid to Israel is in the form of military assistance. Israel has also received significant economic assistance, including $5 million last year

toward resettling migrants in Israel. The country has a long-standing policy of accepting Jews from other parts of the world as citizens. Israel is not currently at war or being threatened by war as is Ukraine. Since 1967, it has maintained a brutal and illegal military occupation over the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and Gaza (the Occupied Palestinian Territories or OPT), an occupation that has been recognized as “apartheid”

Donald E. Andrews

SWEDEN — Donald E. Andrews, 64, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday February 15, 2023. He was born December 24, 1958, in Bridgton, a son of the late Louis and Joan (Chandler) Andrews. Donald attended and graduated from the local school system. He was employed at Lucas Tree Experts as an Arborist for 40 years until his health forced his retirement.

After many years of courting and pursuance, he wed the love of his life, Emily Carruthers, on July 3, 1993, and together they raised two daughters, Natasha and Jessica.

His greatest joy was spending time with his family and friends. He enjoyed fishing, camping, NASCAR and a good western movie.

Donald was predeceased by his loving parents Louis and Joan Andrews and brother, Stephen Andrews. He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife Emily and daughters, Natasha Carruthers, Jessica Allbee (Alex Allbee) and Courtney Grant. Along with his grandchildren, extended family and friends.

In following Donald’s wishes all services are at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 8 Elm Street Bridgton. To make an online condolence please visit www. chandlerfunerals.com

William A. Bearse III

Friday, February 10, 2023, William “Bill” Amasa Bearse III, 81, longtime teacher, skier, sailor, golfer, and friend, passed away in his home surrounded by his wife and two children.

Bill was born on February 21, 1941, in Barnstable, Mass., to William Amasa Bearse Jr. and Virginia Platner Bearse. He grew up in Hyannisport, where he learned to sail and swim and developed his lifelong love of the sea. He raced Wyanno Seniors and Lasers, among other boats. His passion for Maine started when he attended Hebron Academy; following graduation Bill spent time in France before being sent to Vietnam in 1963. After the Marines, Bill attended Boston University, played defensive line on the hockey team, and sailed before attending MIT for grad school. While teaching graduate classes in Boston, Bill started his weekly trek up to the Maine woods to ski; he soon realized that he had two choices, die driving to Maine or move up to Maine and enjoy life.

So Bill moved to Maine and began teaching at MCI, where he met his wife, Lee, while teaching. After leaving MCI, Bill and Lee moved to Bridgton Academy, where Bill spent most of his career as a chemistry teacher, ski, and tennis coach. Bill sent over 100 students to the Naval Academy during his time at BA, and his experiments stinking up the hallways with the smell of sulfur were legendary. While he spent many days convincing wayward students to love science, his true passion was lifelong sports.

While in Bridgton, Bill designed a beautiful post and beam house on Moose Pond, raised his wonderful children, and cherished every moment in the Maine outdoors. As a steward of the Maine outdoors, Bill could be found rowing on Moose Pond in the early mornings in his beautifully restored 1903 Old Town Rowing Canoe or carving up the slopes on nearby mountains. Bill always thought a good year was at least 100 days on the slopes, 150 days in a boat, and a 100 days on the course. He taught many friends and family to ski, sail, golf, play tennis, and learn to love the outdoors.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Ginny Bearse, his beloved daughter, Jessica Lee Bearse, and many great friends. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Lee MartellBearse; his son Asa and wife, Mayara, of New Haven, Conn.; his daughter Emily Bearse of Strafford, N.H.; and his dog Lily and grand-dog Zuzu. He was loved by many, including his many longtime friends.

Bill has many plans for his earthy body, and a celebration of life will be at the Old Saco Inn on March 25 from 2-4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Winter Kids Fund, Loon Echo Land Trust, or Bridgton Academy. We encourage all to ski a run or two in his memory.

Online condolence messages can be submitted at the Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home website, www.mainefuneral.com

by American and Israeli human rights organizations. Some 4.5 million Palestinians live in the OPT (2.7 million in the West Bank and 1.8 million in Gaza). Our tax money supports this illegal occupation. It is high time that Americans re-examine the financial support that we provide to Israel because, our government claims, it is our “partner” in the Middle East and we have “shared values,” while Israel itself

continues to violate the human rights of 4.5 million people. Shared values? I don’t think so.

Donna Joss Bridgton

Stick to theology

To The Editor: Gosh, I wish the Rev would stay in his lane… theology. Each time he steps out of it, he exposes

Obituaries

Peter B. Wert

Peter Beyer Wert passed away on January 23, 2023, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Born on March 9, 1945, in Denver, Colorado, to his parents Dr. Robert Joseph Wert and Ann Beyer Wert. Peter’s parents moved back to California in 1947 where his father and mother had met while attending Stanford University in the early 40s and where Rob would complete a Ph.D. in Education then work in the Stanford University administration. Peter grew up on the Stanford campus with his brother Alec and Amy Wert. Peter attended Palo Alto High School where he met his future wife, Barbara Austin. After graduating from Palo Alto H.S., Peter attended Colorado College, Menlo College and then graduated from Stanford University in 1970 with a B.A. in Communications. That same year his son Justin Robert Wert was born.

He began his career as a fundraiser in New York City working for several colleges and universities. In 1976 he moved to Washington D.C., to work as a fundraiser for the American Film Institute. In 1978 AFI transferred him to Hollywood where he also started doing some independent film producing. Then he started fundraising for the Motion Picture and Television Fund. He also served as president for the nonprofit Children of the Night organization in Hollywood. During these years, he lived in Santa Monica and Valencia. Peter excelled in amateur racing as a member of the Sports Car Club of America, continuing his father’s love of fast sports cars.

In the 90s, Peter moved back to Northern California where he operated cab companies and then retired to Lovell, Maine in 2014, to be with his partner, Catherine Stone. Peter relocated to Charlottesville, Va., in 2021, where he was close to his son Justin, a professor of English at Piedmont Virginia Community College, and his grandson Ian Robert Wert.

Peter is survived by his sister Amy Johnson of Gig Harbor, Wash., his son Justin Robert Wert of Charlottesville and his grandchildren William Wert of Daniel Island, S.C.; Larry Wert of Oxford, Miss.; and Ian Wert of Charlottesville.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Piedmont Virginia Community College Educational Foundation Scholarships in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Melissa J. Kluge

PORTLAND — Melissa Jill Kluge, 56, lost her courageous battle with leukemia Friday, February 17, 2023, at Maine Medical Center with her daughters by her side. She was born May 9, 1966, in Rumford, the daughter of Fredrick Kluge and Linda Edwards.

Melissa graduated from Lake Region High School Class of 1984 where she played field hockey and basketball. Following graduation, she went on to attend Castleton University and graduated from USM.

After graduation she was employed by Hancock Lumber to write The History of Casco for the celebration of the sesquicentennial. After spending years raising her two daughters, Melissa went on to get her master’s in education.

Working as a special education teacher was her passion. She went above and beyond for all her students. At the time of her passing she was teaching special education at Oxford Hills High School. She spent her summers teaching swimming lessons, working as a BHP, and preparing for Casco Days. The last weekend in July every year was devoted to making sure Casco Days and the parade ran smoothly.

Melissa enjoyed winters snowshoeing with her dog Greta and summers outside with the birds or her toes in the water. She enjoyed spending her free time reading. She was a loving, devoted, hard-working mother, daughter, and friend who will be dearly missed.

She leaves behind her two daughters Paige Sullivan and husband James Sullivan, and Lindsey Kenison; her mother Linda Edwards; sisters Sally Willey and Meredith Kluge; brother Andrew Kluge; also surviving are aunts, uncles and cousins. She was predeceased by her father Fredrick Kluge.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date to be announced. Those who wish to remember Melissa in a special way may make gifts in her memory to Casco Days Association or the Casco Library. Arrangements are in the care of the Hall Funeral Home, 165 Quaker Ridge Road in Casco. www. hallfuneralhome.net.

Always Improving

an incoherence and inconsistency that don’t serve him well.

Apparently, he takes great umbrage that Musk and Bezos, classic American success stories, spend their skillfully attained assets in a way (foolish and wasteful) he doesn’t approve of. It’s curious if foolish and wasteful are of importance to him, there’s nary a reference to the biggest agent of waste and foolishness — the federal government. If you want to lose, and I mean lose a few hundred billion, the federal gov -

ernment is your preferred destination. Please bear in mind if Bezos or Musk, in fact foolishly spend money, it’s theirs as opposed to the government wasting money that was ours.

What a sophisticated and integrated beautifully documented economic explanation of our economic peril he reveals. Climate change (of course) COVID, and the war in Ukraine, all inextricably woven together are the cause of our difficulties. Curiously, it doesn’t occur to him an incompetent federal gov -

LETTERS, Page 4B

Good Red vs Bad Red

(Continued from Page 2B)

red berries, which is one way that new vines get established.

The website for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry reports that there is a similar species of the vine that is called American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens).

(https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mnap/features/invasive_ plants/celastrus.htm)

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

Feb. 22, 1924 - April 29, 2006

This native vine is very rare in Maine and is differentiated from the Oriental bittersweet by the fact that the flowers and fruits are only found at the tips of the stems, the leaves are twice as long as they are wide resulting in more of a football shape vs the round shape of the Oriental bittersweet, and the stems have blunt thorns (bumps) on them versus the smooth stems of the oriental bittersweet. It also does not grow as rapid, or as large as the Oriental bittersweet. Most important is the fact that it is not an invasive species. Unfortunately, some nurseries that label their plants for sale as the American bittersweet are actually mistakenly selling the invasive Oriental bittersweet. There are good pictures at the website of the Oriental bittersweet and the American bittersweet on that website.

Some days it feels like you left yesterday while most days it seems like forever.

Love and Miss

You Mom, Bonnie

The website for the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension (https://extension.unh.edu/ blog/2018/04/invasive-spotlight-oriental-bittersweet) has

REDS, Page 4B

Herbert McDevitt Jr.

NAPLES — Herbert “Herbie” McDevitt Jr., 79 , passed away on February 7, 2023, at his home after a brief illness with friends by his side.

He was born in Portland, Maine, on April 13, 1943, a son of the late Herbert Sr. and Irene McDevitt.

Herbie moved to the Bridgton area in 1980 and he resided in the area such as Cornish, and then Naples.

Herbie enjoyed fishing, trains and being a jokester and hanging out with his friends.

He was predeceased by his good friend Martin B. and Beverly C. Herbie was loved by many.

A funeral will be held on Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. at the Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home, 71 Maple St., Cornish. Burial will be in the spring at Riverside Cemetery in Cornish. Online condolence messages can be submitted at www.mainefuneral.com

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

Eric Nelson, Owner and Funeral Director 165 QUAKER RIDGE RD., CASCO, ME 04015 207-627-4538 • HALLFUNERALHOME.NET

Marion G. Lord

ernment spending money like a drunken sailor (my apologies to sailors everywhere), intent on dismantling the most successful system in history, emphasizing equal opportunity, individual responsibility, and embracing the diverse (yes diverse) results of a meritocracy, is intent with replacing it with a system fostering dependency and bland equal outcomes with no role for merit and effort.

Rev, I know you folks find the term big lie useful. Well, you certainly know how to use it as you continue to lie about Jan. 6 being an insurrection. In reality, it was a bunch of thoroughly p… off citizens outraged over the media and unconstitutional action by state authorities changing the rules governing voting. Insurrection?

Yeah right! No weapons and everybody home for dinner. Darnedest insurrection I’ve ever seen.

So, here’s the bottom line buried deep within the hubris the Rev bestows on us; listen to he and superior fellow travelers, accept their infinite wisdom, and most importantly “shut up and obey.”

Don Vose Naples

Editor’s note: There has been much national debate whether the Jan. 6 rioters were armed or not. Before the Jan. 6 House Select Committee, U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell testified “(c)ommon things were used as weapons, like a baseball bat, a hockey stick, a rebar, a flagpole — including the American flag — pepper spray, bear spray. The rioters ‘had all these items’ used to attack us. Those are weapons.”

Three individuals have

been charged for allegedly bringing a gun onto Capitol grounds on Jan.

6. According to police testimony, a man was arrested leaving the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6 while trying to flee from officers after they suspected he was carrying a firearm on his hip. The suspect was carrying a loaded pistol and 25 rounds of ammunition, according to court documents.

Another man has been charged with illegally bringing a handgun on Capitol grounds on Jan. 6. He allegedly told family members he “brought his gun with him” in the Capitol attack.

The National Debt

To The Editor: The National Debt just exceeded $31.5 trillion and is out of control.

The Congressional Budget Office has projected that the National Debt will explode to $46.4 trillion by 2033! Phillip Swagel, director of CBO, said, “This is simply unsustainable” and will lead to economic disaster unless this country can stop the

spending.

You can see a graph (shown below) of the U.S. National Debt over the last 100 years, which includes administrations from both political parties. As you can see, the rise is now exponential — virtually straight up.

The second graph (shown above) is the National Debt projected by CBO for the next 10 years — again virtually straight up from here.

We can only hope that the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives will be able to do what they say they will do — reduce government spending by controlling the purse strings and forcing negotiations.

Most people live within their budget. All states are required to balance their budgets. It is time that the federal government to do the same.

Bill Preis Bridgton

Jabberwocky

To The Editor: In his Feb. 16 screed, “COVID, Florida, Maine,” Sebago contributor Jock MacGregor spews a bunch of jabberwocky about COVID-19 and the respective responses to the pandemic he contrasts by the states Maine and Florida; the former, he lauds, although inaccurately. For example, he claims (falsely) that Maine CDC “outlawed palliatives” Hydroxychloroquine (an anti-malarial medicine approved for that use in the tropics most often), and Ivermectin (used in veterinary medicine and as an antiparasitic form in human beings, usually in the tropics, as well). This was simply not the case and Mr. MacGregor gets a Pinocchio.

In 2021, however, the false conspiracy claims rampant on social media and spread by a former president himself that these “palliatives” were viable effective alternative treatments in lieu of FDA-approved vaccines was outright dangerous, as well as stupid. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a palliative (medicine) as: “A medicine or form of medical care relieving symptoms without dealing with the cause of the condition.” The aforementioned “quack” treatments met neither of these criteria, were not clinically

The Cost of Living, 1917

(Continued from Page 1B)

Within.” Despite its being written over a century ago, I feel its sentiment is still poignant in our modern era.

“He is not the alien spy and bomb-maker, this enemy within; not only the intriguer who seeks to distract our attention or drug our minds. There is a more powerful, more cruel enemy, and even today his dirty hands are reaching for the American throat. Surely, it is well enough understood by this time, both inside government circles and out, that there is a very promising plot afoot to rob the American consumer. Small increases in prices have been justified from time to time, but there have been large increases, and they are growing larger. Coal — who knows anything about coal? Not the government; a government investigation found no information and gave up. Vegetables — which cost twice as much as in Civil War times — who knows anything about vegetables? Nobody. Yet, onions (15 cents a pound) have increased 366 percent in two months. In the same period, potatoes have gone up 100 percent, cabbages 212.5 percent, beans 300 percent, beets 100 percent, cauliflower 100 percent. ‘On account of the war’ — that is used to explain everything, but it has lost its charm.

This week’s puzzle theme: Board Games

The Federal Trade Commission, which has a batting average of 1,000 so far in its young life, wants $400,000 for an investigation into food prices in general. Give that commission all the money it wants, up to the limit of the treasury, and bring the secret enemy to book. There are reams of anti-trust laws, but their ‘anti’ function has no self-starter. We need an honest inquiry by an intelligent body — such an inquiry as we haven’t had in the whole history of food price investigations.

In our last war, the food barons were so powerful that they even fed putrid meat to our soldiers. Is that going to happen again? Or, short of that, are the poor going to starve in a great squeeze conducted by the speculators? This government would make a horrible botch of food control as practiced by the more orderly governments of Europe. Perhaps we can exist without the attempt [rationing] if the Federal Trade Commission is urged ahead on its duty.

The feeble treason of military traitors is nothing compared with the damage that may be done by daring food czars. Does the consumer want fair prices ardently enough to yell for them? Now is the time to do the yelling. ‘What about potatoes?’”

What about potatoes indeed. Till next time!

proven to treat COVID-19, and were outright unsafe in the case of Ivermectin, “Sheep Drench,” of whatever, as people were overdosing on dosages meant for animals and filling up desperately needed hospital beds for it. By August 2021, it was so bad that the Maine CDC issued an official advisory regarding these products that Mr. MacGregor might have misinterpreted, and it was just that, nothing intended for its proper approved use was outlawed sir. (https:// www.maine.gov/dhhs/

mecdc/health-advisory. shtml?id=5433545)

As Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan’s (R-OH) Kafkaesque House “Weaponization Committee” seeks to denounce the Federal CDC, Dr. Fauci himself, and to deny all science regarding COVID-19 and vaccines and therapeutics ingeniously and speedily developed to combat the deadly virus, there is no need for any more dangerous published Pinocchios, Mr. or Ms. Editor.

Jon St. Laurent Lovell

Fighting midage weight gain

(Continued from Page 1B)

a very rewarding time in our lives, one of deep reflection, branching out, perhaps exploring a new career or a new role in our community. Enjoy it!

Thank you to the reader who submitted this question.

Donna Dodge of Denmark has 30 years of experience as a registered dietitian and nutrition consultant. Do you have a diet or nutrition question? E-mail The Bridgton News at bnews@roadrunner.com for a chance to have your question featured in next week’s paper. All questions will remain anonymous.

Good Red vs Bad Red

(Continued from Page 3B)

information for identifying Oriental bittersweet and for eliminating the invasive species. The recommendation is to hand-pull up the vines before they produce fruit. The roots are easy to identify as they are a bright orange (Bulletin 2506 of Maine Cooperative Extension). The vines can be placed in a plastic bag and disposed of, or placed on a tarp on a paved area and allowed to “bake” before disposing of them. If there are fruits, they should be placed in a plastic bag and disposed of.

The website for the Pennsylvania Extension Service (https://extension.psu.edu/oriental-bittersweet) reports that removal of the vine roots is the only way to kill the vine. However, it is also known that the Oriental bittersweet has an extensive root system, and any root remnants can continue to grow. For established vines that have begun to climb a tree the website outlines that, “The ‘window cut’ method is recommended, where each vine is cut in two places, at the ground level and again at eye level.” It is further stated that the cut vines should not be pulled from the tree so that no damage is caused to the tree, as well as concern for safety of the person. It is noted that this must be done each year to prevent any recovery of the vine. Ridding an area of the invasive vine can take several years of diligence. I am committed to this diligence, and I hope that readers will join me.

For anyone that enjoys placing the red berries on a wreath, or in fall/winter plant arrangements, the American bittersweet produces larger red berries. And, if a nursery cannot guarantee that the plant they sell is an American bittersweet, another option is to purchase fake plants/ vines/stems/berries. I do want to emphasize that American bittersweet plants are difficult to find as the plant is rare in Maine.

As I wrote this column about the color red, a wonderful and creative children’s book came into my mind. It is titled, The Day the Crayons Quit written by Drew Daywalt. The story is about a young man who opens his box of crayons but only finds letters of complaint from each of the colors. The red crayon wrote that it was overworked because of red being the color of “…fire engines, apples, strawberries, and everything else that’s red.” The red crayon added that, “I need a rest.” So, I propose that we work together to eliminate some of the bad red berries from our gardens and landscapes so that the red crayon can rest.

NICE WORK! A couple of ladies from the Chickadee Quilters made this amazing memory quilt for a family in Naples, who lost their 2-year-old son (Kolin Young of Naples who died in September 2022). They put so much love and thought into every stitch, it was such a joy to watch it being put together and knowing where it was going.

BPL hosts evening of local poetry

The Bridgton Public Library is very happy to be supporting local poets with a series of events scheduled through the spring. The first event is this Friday, Feb. 24 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Main Reading Room (upstairs). This event features Robert Carr, author of three poetry collections: Amaranth, The Unbuttoned Eye, and The Heavy of Human Clouds

Robert is a seven-time Pushcartnominated poet, whose work has appeared in the Bellevue Literary Review, Cortland Review, Crab Orchard Review Lana Turner Maine Review, Massachusetts Review, Rattle,

Shenandoah Sonora Review Tar River Poetry, and other publications. He is a 2022 Monson Arts resident; co-editor for the 2019 Ghana Literary Group anthology, Bodies and Scars; and an active member of Writing the Land, an initiative pairing poets and land trusts in order to promote preservation.

If you are an accomplished author, an emerging poet, or someone who just loves the beauty of words, please join BPL for this event. To RSVP, please e-mail (bplreference@bridgton.lib.me.us), call (207-647-2472), or stop by the BPL main circulation desk.

Author Robert Carr

Pihcintu Chorus at LHEPAC

FRYEBURG — The Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center is excited to welcome back the Pihcintu Multinational Girls Chorus on Saturday, March 11 at 4 p.m.

War-torn villages, bloodshed, refugee camps, famine, and political turmoil were devastating realities for many of these young singers before being embraced by the warmth, companionship and harmony that Pihcintu provides.

The power of survival eases but never erases the memory of unthinkable atrocities, physical danger and personal tragedy. Portland, Maine, an everexpanding international resettlement community, was fertile ground to bring together children from diverse backgrounds to sing as one. Con Fullam, awardwinning producer, musician, and songwriter, combined his passion for music with a deep concern for the effect of world issues on children —

creating the chorus with the help of countless supporting souls from all walks of life.

This unique chorus of young women from Cambodia, China, Congo, El

Salvador, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Viet Nam, British West Indies, and Zambia, along with children whose families have been here for generations, have formed a powerful and permanent bond. Through the healing power of music, these vulnerable, yet brave, young women have learned to trust,

Programs and activities at the Bridgton Community Center on Depot Street:

Today, Thursday, February 23

6 to 8 a.m., Dan Fitness

12:30 to 3:30 p.m., Bits and Pieces, free

1 to 2:30 p.m., LRRC Traveling Crafts

Friday, February 24

6 to 8 a.m., Dan Fitness

6:30 to 8 a.m., Lake Region Rep. Party 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., AARP

9 to 10 a.m. Chair Yoga

10 to 11:30 a.m., Bridgton Food Pantry Board meeting

1 to 4 p.m., Mahjongg

Saturday, February 25

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Chickadee Quilters

Sunday, February 26

1 to 3 p.m., Girl Scouts, Great Room

1 to 3 p.m., Bridgton Fiber Group, Room 2

3 to 5 p.m., Birthday party

3:30 to 5 p.m., Rick Hagerstrom practice

5 to 8:30 p.m., The Band

Monday, February 27

6 to 8 a.m., Dan Fitness

10 to 11 a.m. Chair Yoga

1 to 3 p.m., Home School program, free

1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Cribbage, free

5:30 to 8 p.m., Lions Club

Tuesday, February 28

6 to 8 a.m., Dan Fitness

10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Chickadee Quilters

12:30 to 4 p.m., Bridge, $3

Wednesday, March 1

6 to 8 a.m., Dan Fitness

12 to 1 p.m., Senior Lunch

1 to 3 p.m., Mahjongg

2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Cooking Matters

4:30 to 6 p.m., Rick Hagerstrom, practice

5 to 7 p.m., Kayley — Crafts

Local Happenings

Bean and Casserole Supper

DENMARK — The Denmark Congregational Church will hold a bean and casserole supper this Saturday, Feb. 25 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Denmark Municipal Building.

The eat-in or take-out supper also includes hot dogs, brown bread, coleslaw, biscuits, drinks and desserts. Cost is $10 per person, kids under the age of 15 eat free. For more information, call Pam at 207-215-7101.

NORWAY — Norway

Memorial Library will host a cookbook discussion on Thursday, March 30, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The cookbook selected is Smitten Kitchen

Keepers: New Classics for Your Forever Files by Deb Perelman. Attendees will prepare and share a recipe from the cookbook and discuss the book and its recipes.

The cookbook is available to browse at the

hope and laugh again. The children and their music are transformative. Being in their presence is a life-enhancing experience and they touch the hearts of all who hear them!

This is a free concert with donations accepted to support a worthy organization like this and the LHEPAC’s ability to make these events possible.

library’s information desk. To attend, select and photocopy a recipe and bring the prepared dish to the discussion. Participants may also bring containers to take away samples.

To register or for more information, stop by the library’s information desk or call 743-5309 ext. 1. This event depends on a minimum of five registrants by March 23.

Sweden Food Pantry selected

SWEDEN — The Sweden Food Pantry (SFP) has been selected by Hannaford in Bridgton to receive $1 for each $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag sold during the month of March.

Hannaford Supermarket

has always been very generous with food donations to the Pantry. This is another example of their generosity to support efforts to feed hungry families from the towns of Bridgton, Denmark,

Bridgton Farmers’ Market recipe Market Bolognese

By Nancy Tripp Bridgton Farmers’ Market

This week’s recipe comes to us from Michelle Marshall of Padruig Designs. Perfect for a cold winter’s day, Michelle starts this recipe on the stove top and puts it into her crock pot to cook on low as she goes about a busy day.

This recipe, Market Bolognese, is inspired by the classic meat sauce of Italy. Meant to cook for a good long time at the barest of simmers, this is a terrific recipe to begin on the stovetop and transfer to the crock pot for a good long, worry-free cooking. I love this sauce on a flat wide pasta such as tagliatelle or pappardelle as opposed to a spaghetti. In Bologna, meat sauce is never served on spaghetti. This sauce can be used to make a wonderful lasagna.

Many of the ingredients can be found at the Bridgton Winter Farmers’ Market this Saturday.

Market Bolognese

4 slices bacon (or pancetta) chopped into pieces

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

3 tablespoons butter plus 1 tablespoon for tossing the pasta

Weekly Calendar

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Mondays-Fridays

AA Bridgton New Day Group, 12 to 1 p.m., Lake Region Recovery Center, 2 Elm Street, 803-8707, www. lrrcbridgton.org

Walking 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Bridgton Town Hall Gym.

Tuesdays-Wednesdays

Free Clothing. The Table continues to offer free clothing from 1 to 5 p.m. as well as the last Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. There is a variety of clothing available for both genders and many sizes. The Table is located at 160 Main Street in Norway (across the road from the hospital).

Mondays

Jumpin’ Janes Senior Fitness, 9 to 10 a.m., at Bridgton Town Hall, North High Street, no charge.

Knitting & Crocheting Group meets at the Caswell Conservancy Center in Harrison from 1 to 3 p.m. All levels of knitting are welcome.

Stamping Up Class at the Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine, Norway, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Space limited, masks required, materials provided. Sign up at info@crcofwm.org

Chair Yoga (presented by Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine) at Caswell Conservancy Center (42 Main Street) in Harrison with Susan Kane from 11 a.m. to noon.

Open to public ($10), free to cancer patients and their caregivers. No registration required.

Jigsaw Puzzle Library, North Waterford Church (Route 35), the lending library is open every Monday from 1 to 3 p.m. All are welcome.

Tuesdays Open Pickleball Play from 9 a.m. to noon Sebago Rec.

Adult players of all skill levels welcome. For more information, go to www.townofsebago.org/recreation Harrison Food Bank 12 to 6 p.m., located at the Harrison Food Bank, Ronald G. St. John Community Center located at 176 Waterford Road in Harrison. Telephone: 207647-3384.

Bridgton Food Pantry, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., former Methodist Church building, Main Street.

Naples Food Pantry, 10 to 11:30 a.m., located at the Naples United Methodist Chuck; open to Naples residents, distribution is drive-thru.

Tai Chi Maine Set Practice at the Bridgton Town Hall (North High Street) at 10 a.m. For more information, go to the Tai Chi Maine website or e-mail Taichiinmaine@gmail. com. A new beginner instruction takes place at 9:30 a.m.

Jeannette’s Closet, 9 to 11 a.m., free clothing, First Congregational Church, South

Directions

2 onions

3 carrots

3 ribs celery or a celeriac root

1 lb. each ground beef and pork (you can use sausage if you like, sweet Italian works great)

1 large can crushed tomatoes (I like fire

roasted)

1 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup whole milk

Wine (Michelle likes to use marsala)

Salt and pepper to taste

Place the bacon or pancetta in a large heavy-bottomed pan and cook until the edges of the bacon are just beginning to brown. Drain excess fat off the bacon and add the oil, butter and chopped onion to the pot and cook and stir the onion on medium heat until the onion has become translucent, then add the chopped celeriac or celery and carrot. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring the vegetables to coat them well. Add the ground beef and pork, a large pinch of salt and a few grindings of pepper. Crumble the meat with a fork and cook the meat until it has lost its raw, red color.

High Street, Bridgton.

Caregiver Support Group, 1 to 2:30 p.m., MWV Adult Day Center, 987 East Main Street, Center Conway, N.H. This support group offers education, support and coping skills for caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s or Related Disorders. Pre-arranged car is available for the family member while the caregiver attends the meeting. For more information, call 603-356-4980 or online at mwvadultdaycenter. org.

Al-anon, 5 to 6 p.m., Lake Region Recovery Center, www.lrrcbridgton.org Free Narcan Training every other month, third Tuesday, 10 to 11 a.m. by Lake Region Recovery Center. Zoom at https://us02web.zoom. us/86337728738. Meeting ID: 86337728738 (You can use our computers to do this, or at home) Wednesdays

Storytime at the Denmark Public Library at 9:30 a.m. For more information, contact Librarian Robin Gosbee at 452-2200.

Jumpin’ Janes Senior Fitness, 9 to 10 a.m., at Bridgton Town Hall, North High Street, no charge.

Morning Coffee, 9 to 11 a.m., American Legion Post 67, 25 Depot Street, Bridgton. Stop by and have a coffee on us, and see what has been happening with the American Legion. All are welcome! Chair Yoga (presented by

Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine) at Caswell Conservancy Center (42 Main Street) in Harrison with Susan Kane from 11 a.m. to noon. Open to public ($10), free to cancer patients and their caregivers. No registration required.

Thrift Shop at the Lovell United Church of Christ (1174 Main Street), open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; $2 bag sale on the last Wednesday and Saturday of each month.

Family Caregiver Support Group, second Wednesday of each month, 1 to 2:30 p.m., Bridgton Community Center (15 Depot Street), confidentiality respected, sponsored by Southern Maine Agency on Aging; tel. 647-3116.

Sweden Food Pantry, open the first and third Wednesday of the month, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shoppers must wear a mask. For a To-Go box, call 647-5735 the Monday before pantry. The pantry is in the basement of the Sweden Community Church, 137 Bridgton Road, near Sweden’s Four Corners (intersection of Route 93 and Waterford Road).

Alateen Meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., PVHI Outreach/ Legion Hall, 47 Bradley Street, Fryeburg. For more information, chris.whitaker@pvhi.org or call 207-332-7735.

Wednesdays and Saturdays

Thrift Shop, Lovell United Church of Christ, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Add the milk and let it simmer gently, stirring frequently, until it has bubbled away completely. Add a grating of nutmeg, about 1/8th teaspoon and stir.

Add the wine, let it simmer until it has evaporated, then add the tomatoes and stir thoroughly to coat all ingredients well. When the tomatoes begin to bubble, turn the heat down to the laziest of simmers, just an intermittent bubble breaking through to the surface. Cook, uncovered for 3 hours or more, stirring from time to time. While the sauce is cooking, you are likely to find that it begins to dry out and the fat separates from the meat. To keep it from sticking, continue the cooking, adding ½ cup of water whenever necessary. At the end, however, no water at all must be left and the fat must separate from the sauce.

Or at this point, place the sauce in your crock pot and cook undisturbed for 8 to 10 hours with no worry of drying (at least 4 to 6 hours, but the longer cooking time will enhance and deepen the flavors.)

Use the pasta of your choice and garnish with a little Romano cheese and a loaf of farm fresh bread. Enjoy!

The Bridgton Winter Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon through April 22. The new winter location is the Masonic Hall, Oriental Lodge #13 at 166 Harrison Road (Route 117).

For a full list of vendors and information on ordering or to sign up for the BFM weekly newsletter visit https:// www.facebook.com/BridgtonFarmersMarket/ or contact BFM at bridgtonfarmersmarket.me@gmail.com

Please no dogs. Sorry, we have a lease to honor. BFM accepts credit cards and EBT. See you there!

Wednesdays and Thursdays

Fryeburg Historical Society

Osgood House Museum, located at 83 Portland Street in Fryeburg, is open for tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information e-mail the Historical Society at info@ fryeburghistorical.org or visit the webpage at fryeburghistorical.org

Thursdays

Open Pickleball Play from 9 a.m. to noon Sebago Rec.

Adult players of all skill levels welcome. For more information, go to www.townofsebago.org/recreation

Tai Chi Maine Set Practice at the Bridgton Town Hall on North High Street at 10 a.m. A new beginner instruction takes place at 9:30 a.m. For more information, go to the Tai Chi Maine website or e-mail Taichiinmaine@gmail.com

NA (Narcotics Anonymous), 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Lake Region Recovery Center, 25 Hospital Drive, Suite E, located behind the old hospital using a private entrance, 803-

8707, www.lrrcbridgton.org

Women for Sobriety, 3 p.m., Lake Region Recovery Center, 25 Hospital Drive, Bridgton (behind old Bridgton Hospital). Open meeting. In-person or Zoom (https://us02web.zoom. us/j/89816213447). Meeting ID: 89816213447. Trail Runs. Every Thursday, May to September, 5:30 p.m., Greater Lovell Land Trust, Lovell Rec, and Upper Saco Valley Land Trust will co-host Roots & Rocks Ramblers Fun Trail Runs. Check gllt.org to register for e-mail announcements of weekly locations. Harrison Maine Climate Action Group has changed its meetings to the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 2 p.m., at the Harrison Village Library. This is a non-partisan group. Masks are encouraged, as the space is small. Interested but can’t attend? You can participate without attending meetings: Join the Facebook group: Harrison Maine Climate Action or e-mail Andrea at:

WEEKLY, Page 7B

video quirkworksstudio.com / 207-239-4154 (12/22x)

PILATES ALFA Pilates offers Pilates Privates at a home studio in Hiram, ME. Call 347-854-3010 or email angelaluem@gmail.com (12/23x)

PLUMBING & HEATING Collins Plumbing & Heating Inc. Specializing in repair service in The Lake Region 647-4436 (12/23x)

Ken Karpowich Plumbing Repairs/Installation/Remodeling Master Plumber in ME & NH Over 20 years experience 207-925-1423 (12/23x)

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Clement Bros. Lawn and Landscape Organic lawn & garden maintenance Shoreline restoration Creative stonework, property watch Snowplowing & sanding 207-693-6646 www.clementbros.com (12/23x)

REAL ESTATE Chalmers Real Estate 100 Main St., Bridgton Tel. 647-3311 (TF)

Kezar Realty Homes, Land & Vacation Rentals Lovell Village 207-925-1500 KezarRealty.com (12/23x)

Oberg Agency Residential, Business, Lake Shore Property 132 Main St., Bridgton Tel. 647-5551, 888-400-9858 (12/23x)

RUBBISH SERVICE ABC Rubbish Weekly Pick-up Container Service Tel. 743-5417 (TF)

Worsters Rubbish Removal Trash hauling Docks – Demolition Snowplowing/Sanding Harrison 207-583-6914 (3/23x)

SELF-STORAGE Bridgton Storage 409 Portland Rd. 28 units & 4000’ open barn Bridgton 272-8085 (3/23x)

Food Pantry selected

(Continued from Page 5B)

Fryeburg, Harrison, Lovell, Stoneham, Stow, Sweden, Waterford, and anywhere else people live who come to the Sweden Pantry in need of food and other household supplies.

SFP appreciates being selected to be part of the Hannaford Fight Hunger

Bag Program, and wants to thank everyone in the community who purchases the reusable Fight Hunger Bag during the month of March.

Thank you to Hannaford and its many employees for all they do for the community.

The Sweden Food Pantry is open on the first

and third Wednesdays of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, check the website https://www.swedenfoodpantry.org or Facebook Page. Phone number is 207-647-5735.

“We are proud to be Neighbors Helping Neighbors,” — SFP.

Calendar of Events

Saturday, February 25

Create Floorcloth. The Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity in Bridgton presents “Create a 19th Century Floorcloth,” 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. https://www.rufusportermuseum.org/eventdetails/create-a-19th-centurystyle-floorcloth

Otisfield Winter Carnival at the Otisfield Community Hall. The Winter Carnival offers carnival games (10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.), The Silver

BN 8 ATTENTION

Classified line ads are now posted on our website at NO EXTRA CHARGE! www.bridgton.com

HELP WANTED

MSAD72 SCHOOL DISTRICT (EOE) in Fryeburg, Maine has immediate openings: van drivers, bus drivers, bus aides and substitutes. Visit www.msad72.org, call 207-935-2600 or pick up an application today at Door #10, 25 Molly Ockett Drive, Fryeburg, ME tf7

Circus (12 to 1 p.m.), a community lunch (12:15 to 1:30), make and take crafts (1 to 2:30), cookie decorating, the classic Cardboard Sled race (2:30), topped off with an Italian dinner (4:30 to 6:30).

Donations benefit town office

playground and winter fuel assistance!

Casco Village Church

United Church of Christ is hosting its February “Florida Fiesta” supper from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Weekly Calendar

(Continued from Page 6B)

harrisonmaineclimateaction@ gmail.com.

Lovell Area Food Pantry, open the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Lovell Lions Club, 2081 Main Street, (North) Lovell. E-mail: Lovellareafoodpantry@gmail. com or call (207) 542-7239.

Fridays

Coffee Call, 8 to 10 a.m., Caswell Conservancy Center (42 Main Street) in Harrison, pastries and donuts available, lots of hot coffee, stimulating conversations and time to share memories of time in the military and more.

Jumpin’ Janes Senior Fitness, 9 to 10 a.m., at Bridgton Town Hall, North High Street, no charge.

Coffee Café at the Waterford Library, 10 a.m. to noon, a weekly gathering with your friends and neighbors.

Denmark Library Coffee Café every Friday, 9 to 11 a.m., Denmark Public Library 121 E. Main St, Denmark, (207) 452-2200.

Saturdays

Free Breakfast. The Table is excited for the return of in-person breakfasts with the option of pick-up to go meals

This dinner will feature baked ham with pineapple, casseroles, beans, fruit, summer salads, and homemade desserts! It’s all for only $10 for adults, and $5 for children ages 10 and under. The church is located at 941 Meadow Road in Casco. Wear your wildest Hawaiian shirt! For more information, call 207627-4282.

Bean and Casserole Supper sponsored by the Denmark Congregational

Church from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Denmark Municipal Building. The eat-in or takeout supper also includes hot dogs, brown bread, coleslaw, biscuits, drinks and desserts. Cost is $10 per person, kids under the age of 15 eat free.

Wednesday, March 1 Paying for College, a free, informative financial aid session with Maria McDougal from FAME (Finance Authority of Maine) at 6 p.m. at the Adult Education building behind Lake Region High School. Call, e-mail, or visit the program website: Tel. 207627-4291, website adulted@

at 9 a.m. at the Norway Grange on Whitman Street in Norway. The Table is always interested in other teams who would like to take a Saturday and serve breakfast. The in-person breakfast has been a great way to combat food insecurity as well as fulfilling a social need for many in the area.

Sebago Yoga classes on Saturday mornings at the Sebago Town Hall gym. Sign up at www.sebagoyoga.com.

Thrift Shop at the Lovell United Church of Christ (1174 Main Street), open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; $2 bag sale on the last Wednesday and Saturday of each month.

Painting classes for beginners and intermediates at 1 p.m. at the Caswell Conservancy Center, 42 Main Street, Harrison. Landscape techniques will be will taught and all materials will be provided. Cost is $20. Instructor: Sandra Kimball. Call (207) 693-5655 for subject matter for the coming weeks.

Art Classes at the Caswell Conservancy Center from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Open to all levels. Call for information 207-6935655.

All About Books, third Saturdays at the Waterford Library at 11a.m. All About Books offers Maine authors a platform to talk about their writing process, evolving journey, and their books. Recent challenges have made these

lakeregionschools.org

Saturday, March 4

Pancake and Sausage

Breakfast, sponsored by American Legion Post 67, 8 to 11 a.m., Bridgton Community Center, 15 Depot Street. Recommended donation, $8 per person. All proceeds benefit American Legion Post 67.

Winter Fun Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Peabody-Fitch Woods.

Join Loon Echo Land Trust for a day of winter activities at Peabody-Fitch Woods in South Bridgton. There will be a combination of free adaptive and non-adaptive crosscountry ski gear, fat bikes and

Classified Advertising

HELP

FUTURE LEADERS WANTED

— Q-Team Tree Service in Naples. Visit Q-Team.com/benefits for info. tf51 FOR SALE

$5 FOR TATTERED — U.S. Flag when purchasing new U.S. Flag 3’x5’ or larger. Maine Flag & Banner, Windham, 893-0339. tf46

Henry’s Concrete Construction is looking to hire for a few positions: concrete laborer, concrete floor finisher, and Class B boom truck operator.

Please DO NOT respond if you: are unable to set your alarm, text out sick once a week, have to find a ride to work, or think checking social media every five minutes is part of your daily tasks.

DO REPLY if you are a dependable hard worker that doesn’t whine, is able to be part of a team that provides quality work, you don’t mind working 50+ hours a week earning great pay, staying fit and getting a great tan and have a never give up attitude. Please call or text

DRIED FIREWOOD — Dried twelve months. Selling seasoned hardwood year-round. One cord $350, cut, split, delivered. Call 207-595-5029; 207-583-4113. maineseasonedfirewood.com 52t31x FOR RENT

OFFICE FOR RENT 82 Main Street, Bridgton for therapy/ massage/office. Furnished, heat/ AC, WiFi, printer. $15/hr. Call207-329-5545. 4t5

2001 CHEVY SILVERADO — 2500 HD. Off-road use for snowplowing. No plow. $800. 6538141. 1t8x JESUS IS LORD — new and used auto parts. National locator. Most parts 2 days. Good used cars. Ovide’s Used Cars, Inc., Rte. 302 Bridgton, 207-647-5477. tf30

BUSINESS SERVICES

DENMARK HOUSE PAINTING — Since 1980. Interior and exterior painting. Free estimates. Call John Mathews 452-2781. tf40x

conversations especially poignant. Program to be held at the library. All welcome. Free.

Zoom attendance available upon request.

Cornerstone Gospel Church men’s breakfast, the third Saturday of each month, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Tel. 693-6102 or e-mail pastorjimmarstaller@yahoo.com Sundays Church Service at the North Waterford Church will now be held in person, at 10 a.m. on Sundays. All are welcome!

Ping Pong at the Bridgton Town Hall from 1 to 4 p.m. All welcome. Equipment provided free! 4 tables! FMI 6472847.

CLOSED FOR WINTER South Bridgton Congregational Church service at 6 p.m. The church is located at 16 Fosterville Road, Bridgton. All are welcome. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Sunday Service, 42 Sweden Road, Bridgton, 10 a.m. All are welcome! Grief Support meeting, 11:30 a.m., through September. Be with others who understand. For more information, call (207) 3100576.

Open Pickleball Play from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Sebago Rec. Adult players of all skill levels welcome. For more information, go to www. townofsebago.org/recreation

snowshoes. More details to be posted on the LELT website. This event is free, but please register. Weather date is Sunday, March 5.

Tuesday, March 7 and March 14

LAKE REGION — Transportation Service. From shopping trips, pick-up and delivery to personal errands, airport, and special requests. Call or text your request to 207-2910193. 4t7x

WANTED

RETIRED PROFESSOR — seeks temporary, preferably longterm housing beginning March in quiet Bridgton/Waterford/Harrison area. Non-smoker. Have older cat. Please contact Paul at 207-3930411. 1t8x

Self-Defense Workshop. A self-defense workshop — focusing on mindset, defensive tactics and fun — will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Bridgton Town Gym on North High Street. In this three-hour workshop, participants will learn skills to protect themselves with lots of physical practice. For more information, contact instructor Renshi Lisa Magiera at RenshiLisa@gmail.com. The recommended donation is $15 per person. All proceeds benefit Tucker’s House, a recovery home for women in North Bridgton. The workshop is sponsored by the Bridgton Police Department, Bridgton Recreation and Bushido Karate Dojo.

Tuesday, March 7

Completing the FAFSA, a free, informative financial aid session with Maria McDougal from FAME (Finance Authority of Maine) at 6 p.m. at the Adult Education building behind Lake Region High School. Call, e-mail, or visit the website: Tel. 207627-4291, website adulted@ lakeregionschools.org

CALENDAR, Page 8B PLEASE

SWEDEN FOOD PANTRY Board Members (left to right) Jane Gibbons, Claudia Blondell, Carol Madsen, Miriam Gibely, Linda Bradley, Shirley Crowe and Lynn Hurd.

WFLT: Twin Bridges Preserve Senior Rambles

The Denmark Mountain Hikers explored the Twin Bridges Preserve in April 2022 at the end of last winter, with a few remaining piles of snow and some wet spots in the trail. A nice little ramble along the banks of the Crooked River, and the consensus was to do it again as a snowshoe hike.

That is what 10 Denmark Mountain Hikers did on a bright winter day on Feb. 10 with lots of snow on the ground. Jeff Sturgis took the lead and Kathy Huchthausen was sweep. Everyone opted to wear for snowshoes, but

Kathy, as sweep, really didn’t need them as the trail was nicely packed down by the nine ahead of her. Smart move!

After the obligatory photo at the start of the trail at the kiosk, Jeff led the group along the Crooked River with spectacular views of the ice flows and snowy trees. The sun was shining through a mist coming off the snowbanks giving the hike a surrealist feeling.

The trail had been broken for part of the way, making the hiking easy. We left the trailhead at 10 a.m. and reached a trail junction with a cutoff trail at 10:40 a.m. The group then headed back away from the river on the Pierce Trail, but found that the trail hadn’t been broken since the last couple of snowstorms, so the group headed back to where the trails were broken.

I split off from the group to return along the riverside to take pictures, and joined everyone as we neared the kiosk and trailhead. Everyone was back at the cars by 11:20 a.m., after about 2¼ miles of snowshoeing. A good bit of exercise to our leg and hip muscles, and a warm up for next Friday’s hike on Amos Mountain.

After the hike, most everyone headed to the

Bridgton Police Department

These items appeared on the Bridgton Police Department blotter (this is a partial listing):

Monday, February 13

3:28 p.m. Motor vehicle crash on Mountain Road.

3:45 p.m. Missing person report on Lumberyard Drive.

5:21 p.m. One vehicle crash on South High Street; minor damage reported. No personal injury.

5:58 p.m. Citizen assist on Main Street.

Tuesday, February 14

7:34 a.m. Officers checked South High Street following a report of black ice there; Public Works notified.

8:07 a.m. Single vehicle crash at the intersection of South High Street and Winn Road; minor damage, no injuries.

9:25 a.m. Routine sex offender registration.

6:33 p.m. Report of juvenile runaway on South High Street.

8:40 p.m. Welfare check on Arrowhead Road.

Wednesday, February 15

7:18 a.m. Officer assisted United Ambulance personnel with a medical emergency on North High Street.

8:47 a.m. Attempt to locate erratic driver traveling on Harrison Road.

9:25 a.m. Citizen assist on Main Street.

9:31 a.m. Citizen assist on North High Street.

4:20 p.m. Officer responded to a family custody dispute on Burnham Road.

5:10 p.m. A car and deer collided on Sweden Road; no injury to the deer; no damage to the vehicle.

5:12 p.m. Traffic hazard on Main Street.

Thursday, February 16

12:11 a.m. Police issued a man a trespass notice for Hospital Drive property.

3:37 a.m. Suspicious vehicle on Harrison Road; operator was on break from work.

8:44 a.m. Police searched for a vehicle that reportedly passed a stopped school bus at Frances Bell Drive. The driver was located and issued a summons.

10:21 a.m. Welfare check on Stone Road; subject had taken off on foot, was located and transported to the hospital for evaluation.

10:50 a.m. Police were sent to Beaver Creek Farm Road regarding harassment issues between family members.

3:59 p.m. Welfare check on Portland Road.

4:43 p.m. Officers responded to a report of illegal parking at the intersection of Main Street and Fowler Street; vehicle gone upon officers’ arrival.

4:55 p.m. Suspicious pedestrian on Mountain Road.

7:44 p.m. Suspicious activity (someone with a flashlight and the sound of a chain saw) on Bells Point Road. Police found a subject cutting a tree that had

fallen, blocking a driveway.

10:37 p.m. Welfare check on Bells Point Road.

Friday, February 17

9:19 a.m. Routine sex offender registration.

10:35 a.m. Burglary on Burnham Road. Residence entered while owners were on vacation; items were moved and some reported missing.

2:50 p.m. Following a traffic stop at the intersection of South High Street and South Bridgton Road, a man was issued summonses for illegal attachment of license plates, operating after suspension and failing to provide proof of insurance.

7 p.m. Mental health event on Campbell Drive.

7:51 p.m. Welfare check on Ingalls Road.

Saturday, February 18

1:17 a.m. Report of a violation of a protection order on Main Street.

9:49 a.m. BPD assisted a county deputy with a simple assault on Plains Road in Harrison.

11:53 a.m. Community policing at Highland Lake Beach.

5:55 p.m. Alarm at a Middle Ridge Road home. The officer and property owner arrived at the same time, and the patrolman was asked to check the house. No sign of forced entry or anyone inside.

6:40 p.m. Juvenile problem at Holden Hills.

7:03 p.m. Motor vehicle crash at Rivard Lane.

7:19 p.m. Motor vehicle crash on South High Street.

7:53 p.m. Following a traffic stop on South High Street, a man was issued summonses for operating after suspension and violating conditions of release.

Sunday, February 19

7:05 p.m. Police assisted United Ambulance personnel with a medical emergency (subject had fallen) on Wells Road.

7:22 p.m. Attempt to locate vehicle operating erratically on Main Street.

8:39 p.m. Possible violation of a protection order on Main Street; female warned for disorderly conduct.

10:15 p.m. Police assisted United Ambulance personnel with a medical emergency on Main Street.

Hiking Trips & Tips

by Allen Crabtree

Café Nomad in Norway for sandwiches and scones along with hot drinks. Sandy Bell introduced us to the trail steward for the Twin Bridges preserve who told us about the Western Foothills Land Preserve (WFLT) properties in the area, many of which we have hiked.

Western Foothills Land Trust protects farmlands, wetlands, forestlands, unique natural resources and open space in the greater Oxford Hills area of Western Maine. The Trust also holds conservation easements on privately owned lands and owns working forest lands and preserves in the region.

To date, trust lands contain over 32 miles of recreational trails.

The Twin Bridges Preserve is one of many preserves that are a part of the Crooked River Forest. WFLT continues to partner with other organizations to protect lands in the Crooked River watershed, with an over-arching goal of protecting a forested watershed for a variety of ecosystem services including water quality. Over 200,000 households, 1/6th of Maine, rely upon clean drinking water from the Sebago Lake Reservoir, which is fed by the Crooked River and other tributaries within the greater Sebago Lake Watershed.

Twin Bridges Preserve in Oxford County, Otisfield, ME

Difficulty – Easy

Trail distance – A network of about 5.0 miles of trails

Hiking times – 1½ to 3 hours depending on trails taken

Elevation – 450 feet

Vertical gains – 52 feet

Directions to the trailhead: Go 5.3 miles on Route 117 toward Norway from the junction of Routes 35 and 117 in Harrison. Right after the road crosses the Crooked River, there are two parking lots on the right. The Twin Bridges Preserve trailhead is the second parking lot. Room for 6 to 8 cars. There is a trail map at the Western Foothills Land Trust website, http://www.wfltmaine.org.

Calendar

(Continued from Page 7B)

Wednesday, March 8 Cyberspace Lecture.

Summer 2022 Intern Grace Acton will present a Virtual Lecture on “Rufus’s Adventures in Cyberspace.”

Grace will discuss how digital historians turn historical data into interactive digital objects. She will specifically focus on the process of creating the map of Porter School art that is available on the Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity website. Link: https://www.rufusportermuseum.org/event-details/ rufuss-adventures-in-cyberspace

International Women’s Day Flash Mob, presented by the Bridgton Arts and Culture Subcommittee, 12 p.m., parking lot at Ian Factor Fine Art, 67 Main Street, Bridgton. Flash Mob to help Break the Bias! Everyone welcome to participate. To

find out how to participate, e-mail Susan Guthro at susieguthro@gmail.com or go to the Facebook page, www. facebook.com/bridgtonartsandculture.

Friday, March 10 Fill the Plate Breakfast. SeniorsPlus, the designated Agency on Aging for Western Maine, will hold a breakfast to benefit its Meals on Wheels nutrition program from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Riverwatch in Auburn. The breakfast will honor Auburn resident Eloise O’Neill with the 2023 Ikaria Award and feature a talk by former WGME-TV award-winning, longtime anchor Kim Block. Tickets are $25 per person ($30 at the door) and are available at www.seniorsplus.org or by calling 207795-4010. Seats are limited and advance registration is recommended.

THE SUN SHINING through the mist rising from the snow and ice on Crooked River were magical.

(Photo by Allen Crabtree)

DENMARK MOUNTAIN HIKERS on the Twin Bridge trail.

(Photo by Allen Crabtree)

The ice covered Crooked River.

(Photo by Jeff Sturgis)