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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 150, No. 9
20 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
February 28, 2019
(USPS 065-020)
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Residents seek to close streets to truck travel
TIME GOES BY SO FAST were the thoughts of Marlise and Phil Libby as they reflected upon opening Sportshaus back in 1979, and their picture appeared on Page 1 of The News (left). The couple plan to retire this April, and close their popular ski & sport shop in West Bridgton.
‘It’s been quite a ride’ After four decades, Sportshaus to close as owners set to retire By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer For over four decades, Marlise and Phil Libby have provided area residents and others from points near and far outlets to enjoy the great outdoors — be it cruising down the mountainside as crisp winter air bites at one’s cheeks or slowly paddling across the still lake as a loon cries out. “We are why you work,” Marlise said. “We sell sizzle,” Phil added. “Nobody needs anything we sell in this store. We’re selling fun. We’re selling them an experience.” As owners of Sportshaus in West Bridgton, the couple dedicated their working lives to helping others find fun in their free time. In April, they will close the store, retire and look to have a little more fun like everyone else. “We got to the point where we looked at our ages and wondered how many good years do we have left? We love the business, but it is a seven days a week commitment. We’ve done it for a long time, and it’s been very successful,” they said. “Our people have been phenomenal. They’ve done all of the heavy lifting for the past 10 years. But, at some point in time, it’s time to move on. It’s been a good ride.” The Libbys looked at options and, in
the end, “it came down to we own the building, we own the inventory. If we liquidate the inventory — that’s where all the value is — and sell the building, it’s the easiest and quickest way to do it. I’ve had friends try to sell a business, and it could take two to four years. We don’t want to wait,” Phil said. “We didn’t want to wait until after the ski season, and then what? With no skiers, then you have to wait another whole year,” Marlise added. School vacation week is one of the shop’s busiest times of the year, and the “retirement sale” lured more shoppers to the West Bridgton store. The Libbys plan to keep Bridgton their home, but will certainly spend time in Florida, as well visiting their daughter, Jill, who resides in Massachusetts. “I love to ski and play golf,” Phil said. “Marlise and I love to be on our boat in the summer with our grandson. We’ve never spent Christmas anywhere else but our house for 40 years. Everybody had to come to us. We still like that, but we’d like the option that if our daughter would like us in Boston, we can go without worry. It’s time. Neither of us had a burning desire that the Sportshaus name had to stay out there. If might. I’ve been amazed that in the eight to 10 days that we’ve been running this ‘Retirement Sale,’ I’ve SPORTSHAUS, Page 3A
Revisiting 1995
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Julie Harmon was worried about what could happen with more and more tractor trailer trucks traveling along narrow residential roadways like Cottage, Church, Gage, Fowler and Walker Streets. “We have an ongoing problem with tractor trailer trucks trying to come up these streets and failing to be able to make the corners to turn onto any of these streets,” said Harmon, who has resided on Cottage Street for the past 32 years. “In the summer, they run over lawns…I had to reseed my lawn three times this past summer.” The day she sent a letter to Bridgton selectmen to voice concerns about these trucks, a food service truck attempted to climb Cottage Street during bad weath-
er, and jackknifed into her driveway causing damage to Harmon’s property. Neighbor Jackie Bacon told selectmen Tuesday night had Harmon been home at the time of the accident, her vehicle would have likely been crushed. Harmon requested selectmen to post the five intown streets, much like the town has done on Dugway Road. While Harmon has no problem with delivery trucks or heating oil trucks, the larger “18-wheelers” and “5th wheels” should be prohibited, she said. “It’s causing a huge problem,” she said. Bacon added that the bigger trucks create more noise in the residential neighborhood. Public Works Director Jim Kidder agreed that the five roads are very narrow for tractor trailers to
travel, and pointed out that the town’s traffic ordinance does allow selectmen the authority to post certain roadways. Selectman Bear Zaidman initially proposed to post the five roads as “No Through Trucks.” Before a second could be gained, Board chairman Lee Eastman interjected that officials should seek out comments from business owners. Selectmen will discuss the matter at their next meeting, set for March 12. On another traffic matter, resident Greg Watkins suggested that the town consider placing a “Yield” or some other sign near the Smith Avenue bridge. The bridge, which spans Stevens Brook, is quite narrow and difficult for two vehicles to cross at the same time. NOTES, Page 10A
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer It took two rounds of budget reductions, but Superintendent Al Smith believes SAD 61 has reached a level of funding for 20192020 that is “fiscally responsible.” With some revenue figures still up in the air due to some uncertainty coming out of Augusta, the figure the school board feels “comfortable” with calls for a 2.6% increase.
Smith noted during Monday night’s budget workshop at Lake Region Vocational Center’s Great Room the proposed reductions to reach 2.6% presented no impact to student programming or staffing. A third round, which Smith was against, cut two positions — a Grade 1 teacher at Stevens Brook Elementary School ($60,000) and a .6 art teacher at Lake Region High School ($30,000). Those cuts would drop the proposed
increase to 2.3%. Finance Committee chairman Karla Swanson-Murphy reviewed the budget creation process, which included presentations to the group by administrators. Initial figures pushed the budget higher than the committee had targeted, so reductions were called for. Round 1 trimmed $365,199. The list included: • Lake Region Middle School supplies and equipment, $10,000 BUDGET, Page 10A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — It started with one person. One Naples resident made a request to include Trickey Pond in an ordinance requir-
ing all major points of entry into the water to be surveyed for invasive aquatic plants like milfoil. Joe Kellogg said that it was commendable that the town had established an ordinance to deter the spread of milfoil. Kellogg said he lived near Trickey Pond, which also has a summer camp for boys and a campground on its shores. He asked if Trickey Pond could be added to the ordinance that included only Long Lake and Brandy Pond, which is connected to Long Lake by a short canal also referred to as Chute River. The proposed milfoil survey ordinance will include all lakes and ponds in Naples. A second public hearing will be scheduled before it appears as a warrant article at Naples Town Meeting on April 30. On Monday, three groups — the Naples Board of Selectmen, the Naples Planning Board and the Naples Ordinance Review Committee (ORC) were present at the table for the public hearings on a handful of proposed ordinances. The public hearings were held in the town gymnasium which better accommodated the number of people in attendance. There were more than
60 people in the audience although not everyone was there for the ordinances. The Invasive Aquatic Plant Survey Ordinance was implemented last summer. A mistake in the language actually made it illegal to turn in the required milfoil survey. The error was corrected, and along with the addition of all bodies of water, the new draft will eventually head to town meeting. During Monday’s public hearing, resident Larry Anton asked, “Why is this restricted to Brandy Pond and Long Lake?” Naples Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) Renee Carter said the ordinance had been written by Lakes Environmental Association (LEA). The original intent was that it would be an ordinance shared by the towns of Naples, Harrison and Bridgton since Long Lake is within those towns’ boundaries. But, only Naples presented it to the voters and put it on the ordinance books. In the ordinance, surveys for invasive aquatic plants are required for all public docks, marinas, and campgrounds. Those surveys must be completed by a certified professional during the summer MILFOIL, Page 5A
Supt. feels 2.6% hike ‘fiscally responsible’
Milfoil decree expands to all lakes and ponds
Past, present Lakers open ‘capsule’
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Students discovered that being a Laker during the 1994–95 school year isn’t much different than it is now — even though it was 25 years ago. “I was surprised that stuff was still the same: the hall passes, the varsity letters, the lunches, even some of the fashion is coming back,” said Alyvia Wilson, the Interact Club president and a Lake Region High School (LRHS) senior. Exchange student Caterina Lucconi, also a senior this year, agreed. “What is still the same — small things like the varsity letters, the school magazine. Those things that make you feel like you know the everyday life of the students back then,” Lucconi said. When Lucconi learned about the time capsule she thought, “I am lucky to be here for the exact year it is opened and to see what is different and the same at this school.” Freshman Brooke Toole, also an Interact Club mem-
ber, said she expected there would be a cassette tape or a videotape — two items that have been phased out due to better technology. “I was surprised how many similarities there were because 25 years is a long time,” Toole said. Lake Region High School students involved in the Interact Club hosted a time capsule ceremony, which was held in the school’s gymnasium Saturday morning. A half-dozen people, who attended LRHS the year that the time capsule was created, showed up for the ceremony. They had the honor of pulling out the contents in the metal box. They had the expertise to explain what those items meant and sometimes they were surprised since they did not remember exactly what had been included in the time capsule from two and a half decades ago. “Our 41-year-old selves are not responsible for what our 18-year-old selves put in there,” Gregg Plummer, CAPSULE, Page 1B
The Bridgton News Established 1870
REMOVING TIME CAPSULE — Lake Region High School Interact Club President Alyvia Wilson removes the bolts from the plaque that for 24 years has sealed a time capsule from the 1994–95 school year. (De Busk Photo)
P.O. Box 244, 118 Main St. Bridgton, ME 04009 207-647-2851 Fax: 207-647-5001 bnews@roadrunner.com