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

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.

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