Bn10 030515

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What lies below?

League of her own

Team collects sediment samples from the floor of Kezar Lake for analysis

Inside News Calendar . . . . . 10A-11A

Kate Hall of Casco sets two all-time New England records at championships in Boston

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Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 5B Country Living . . . 7A-9A

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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 146, No. 10

24 PAGES - 2 Sections

Bridgton, Maine

March 5, 2015

(USPS 065-020)

Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 6B

www.bridgton.com

SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS

Hearing set on med marijuana dispensaries By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer A public hearing has been set for Tuesday, March 24 on rules that would be incorporated into the Site Plan Review Ordinance in case a Medical Marijuana Dispensary plans to locate

in Bridgton. The Bridgton Planning Board will preside at the hearing, to take place at 7 p.m. in the downstairs meeting room of the Bridgton Municipal Complex. It is unlikely that, in the near future, a medical marijuana dispensary would come

to Bridgton, under the current restriction to eight dispensaries, or storefronts, in Maine’s Medical Marijuana Program. However, with sales and tax revenues steadily climbing, lawmakers could decide to further expand access by allowing more dispensaries.

In 2014 the industry generated between $60–$75 million in sales, and brought in between $4 and $5 million in state tax revenue. Under state law, patients can buy up to five ounces of marijuana a month. In 2014, there were 4,555 approved

THEY WERE CERTAINLY UP TO THE CHALLENGE — Lake Region High students showed off their spirit and commitment to raising money and collecting food items for the Good Shepherd Food Bank as part of the WGMEChannel 13 School Spirit Challenge. Last Thursday at 6 a.m., WGME aired a live broadcast. (Photos courtesy of Amy Mayo)

From the Principal To The Editor: I want to take this opportunity to thank the people of Poland Spring for donating water to Lake Region High School in support of the WGME-13 School Spirit Challenge. This event was scheduled for Feb. 13, but due to bad weather, it was moved to last Thursday, Feb. 26. The challenge was to raise as much food/money ($1 equals five pounds) as possible with all proceeds going directly to help the Good Shepherd Food-Bank. Between cash and food items collected, Lake Region’s total was 42,840 pounds. PRINCIPAL, Page A

The revisions drafted by Bridgton’s Medical Marijuana Dispensary Ad Hoc Committee would require the dispensary to meet all state licenses and approvals. In addition, the local rules would prohibit a RULES, Page 12A

By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — A timeline has been penned on the calendar. The Casco Board of Selectmen publically announced a schedule for putting together cost estimates for a town hall at two possible locations. The focus has been narrowed down to the renovation of the former TD Bank building next to the Casco Public Library in the Village, and a build new plan for town property on the lot next to the Casco Fire Station. Chairman Grant Plummer stated his plan of action for the

remainder of winter. The next objective is to get accurate cost estimates for both town hall locations, he said. The timeline has a short turn-around. Board members could expect some precise numbers in the next two to four weeks, he said. Selectman Tom Peaslee agreed to team up with Plummer to research the range of costs for both options. “We both have building backgrounds, and will put in appropriate costs as far as construction,” Plummer said. Plummer owns Fieldstone Builders, Inc., a business that COSTS, Page 12A

Getting costs for town hall

BRAG wins right to relocate stand

By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer The Bridgton Planning Board on Tuesday ruled in favor of the Bridgton Recreation Advancement Group in a dispute with the town over a plan to relocate the concession stand at the BRAG Complex. BRAG officials want to build a concession stand with bathrooms in the center of the athletic complex, amidst the baseball and soccer fields, to make it more convenient for spectators and players to use the facilities. Town officials, most notably Anne Krieg, Director of Planning, Economic and Community Development, believe such a location would hamper fire and rescue vehicles from reaching the building and make the area around the building congested and unsafe. In addition, Code Enforcement Officer Robbie Baker said a holding tank septic system would need to be installed before the concession stand

could open for business. After questioning BRAG officials, however, Planning Board members were satisfied that emergency vehicles could reach the stand in case of a fire or injury, by crossing the soccer field from the complex’s entrance at BRAG Way and Home Run Road. BRAG Board of Directors member David Bush provided extra assurances by saying that netting could be installed to keep stray baseballs or softballs from injuring people near the concession stand. The BRAG board has already raised enough money to build the foundation for the 40’x40’ gazebo-style concession stand and bathrooms. Along with the building’s concession area, restrooms and storage on the first floor, the open-style second floor of the octagonal building will be a multi-function area for meetings and press boxes. The existing 48’x28’ conSTAND, Page 12A

By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The Town of Naples has a part-time maintenance person who performs odd jobs from emptying the trash to replacing missing or damaged road signs. Still, on a year-round basis, items on the “to do” list require more hours to finish than the amount of time the maintenance person is on the clock. In other words, there is enough work to justify a full-time position, according to Naples Town Manager Ephrem Paraschak. Also, some of the tasks require two people. When the maintenance job at hand requires a strong back or an

extra set of hands, typically the recreation director or another staff member assists. Wouldn’t two people be better suited for the job? Paraschak thinks so. He has pitched the idea of a two-person full-time maintenance crew shared by the towns of Naples and Casco. Paraschak talked about the concept during the Naples Board of Selectmen meeting on Feb. 23. He said he had already discussed with Casco Town Manager Dave Morton the idea of exploring a shared maintenance department. He said that Morton was open to the possibility. The board gave Paraschak the okay to CREW, Page A

Two-town crew to be explored

Veterans receive eagle head canes By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES – Two local veterans of World War II received an eagle head cane inscribed with their names and dates of military service. One of the men, Fred Gilman, said he would only bring it out on special occasions; while the other gentleman, Reginald “Reggie” Mains, said he would use it all the time. “It’s going to be my third leg,” Mains said, adding he has two or three canes he relies upon regularly. Being a recipient of the eagle head cane “took my heart away,” Mains said. “I wasn’t expecting it, even though they told me about it,” he said. The presentation was part of the monthly meeting at The American Legion Post No. 155. Following a dinner and dessert, the legion members convened upstairs to witness three war veterans receive hand-carved canes with eagle head handles. Gilman, Mains and Devlin Merrill, a veteran and prisoner of war (POW) during the Korean War were the three men honored with the canes. The Eagle Cane Project actually originated in Oklahoma. It came to Maine in 2003 with the help of the Maine Woodturners and the Maine Woodcarvers Association. Post Chaplain Ron Edson helped to coordinate the handing off of the canes. “These canes are hand-made for each veteran specifically. These veterans are well into their 80s and 90s and we feel this is the recognition that is long overdue them,” Edson said. The shafts were made from Maine mountain ash. The CANES, Page A

patients registered with the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Program. Those patients were served by 1,720 caregivers, whose numbers have grown by 600 percent in four years.

The Bridgton News Established 1870

DELVIN MERRILL — a veteran and prisoner of war (POW) during the Korean War, holds up his eagle cane for people to see at the American Legion Post No. 155 meeting on Tuesday. (De Busk Photo)

P.O. Box 244, 118 Main St. Bridgton, ME 04009 207-647-2851 Fax: 207-647-5001 bnews@roadrunner.com


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