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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 151, No. 10
16 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
March 11, 2021
www.bridgton.com
(USPS 065-020)
95¢
Storage plan gains tenative okay
BH: How goes
Covid-19 battle
Editor’s Note: To keep area residents updated regarding Covid-19 vaccinations, The News will hold a weekly Q/A with Bridgton Hospital President Peter Wright. Q. What Covid-19 vaccine is BH administering? PW. Moderna. Pfizer is being used at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. As to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, it is likely to be directed to retail outlets — pharmacies and stores — because it is one dose and needs no special refrigeration. Q. How does one schedule a vaccination appointment? PW. At this time, people 60 and older are being vaccinated, along with recently added education staff and teachers, as well as licensed daycare providers. BH is using a first-come, first-served approach, scheduling appointments based on the allotted vaccine to the facility. BH has not created a “waiting list.” The public is encouraged to contact the Call Center (207) 520-2917 or go online and use the following links: CMHC website: https://www.cmhc.org/get-covidvaccine/ Scheduling Link: https://apps.cmhc.org/ CovidVaccineRegistration/signups/add?page=add COVID UPDATE, Page 6A
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer After hearing a variety of questions and concerns, Jeff Amos admitted people generally fail to get excited about seeing storage facilities built. But, Amos impressed upon Bridgton Planning Board members that developer Mark Lopez went to “great lengths” revising the Mountain Road Storage project to be a “good neighbor.” One big change was the addition of more trees, bushes and shrubs along Route 302 to create a nature buffer. Secondly, the taller posts (20 to 12 feet) and brighter lights were toned down. “We’ve met the standards the best we can,” Amos told planners last week. Lopez echoed that comment, “The project meets every standard of the Land Use Ordinance.” After three-plus hours of public input and board deliberation, planners tentatively approved the project,
5-0 with conditions — 1. Use of an external illuminated sign; 2. The back end of the units will utilize corrugated metal, thus breaking up a “solid wall” look. Planners will review Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law at their next meeting. Before last week’s discussion, Planning Board chairwoman Deb Brusini reminded viewers of the virtual meeting that the applicant bears the “burden of proof” in regards to whether the project meets town standards, and a decision is “not based” on the board’s opinion. Representing applicant Mark Lopez, Amos, a professional engineer at Terradyn Consultants of New Gloucester, gave a brief overview of the project: • It will be located at the Southeast corner of the Mountain Road property • Four self-storage buildings, 11,600 square feet • Additional 80 outdoor storage spaces, majority gravel, central portion
paved, drain to oil/water separator in parking lot. The drain to stormwater pond is under DEP review • Originally, the plan called for seven trees to be planted to line the front of the site, but after significant public comment, a greater number of trees, bushes and shrubs will be planted to create a significant buffer • Lighting plan, before too many too bright, remove four light post around edge of property; light post dropped 20 to 12 feet tall; outdoor parking area motion sensor lights to be used, per public request • No office, no need employee parking, water or sewer services Brusini asked how a potential spill of gas or oil would be handled? Amos said the applicant has in the lease agreement to limit use of oils, grease, gas at the site. Water runoff is directed to a catch basin, which has an oil/ water separator (material floats to the top) that is inspected and maintained as necessary (outline by DEP
guidelines). Brusini then opened the session to public comment and questions: Joe Coletti, of Alpine Road saw that the original application defined three parcels at this site, but the latest schematic only shows two — the storage facility area and a corner lot close to Mountain Road. Amos said the applicant removed all components of a subdivision. He said the sole focus is on the storage facility, and there is no proposed subdivision at this time. Lopez chimed in later that other property could be developed in the future. Stephanie Redding, an abutter on Alpine Road, appreciated lower light poles, as well as the use of motion sensors, but asked whether another buffer could be created at the southeast corner of the property since trees there “are thin”? Lopez said the field has been mowed every year, but in the future, there is no plan to mow the area STORAGE, Page 5A
Casco’s digital sign software needs ’21 update By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — It’s important not to send the wrong message. That’s especially true for a municipality that has a duty to inform the public, the taxpayers. There has been a problem with the Town of Casco’s digital sign, which is located in front of the Casco Fire Station and the Casco Town Hall off Meadow Road. It has been flashing
messages of events from months ago. Local residents have found the outdated messages distracting as they drive by. The digital sign problem was discussed during the Casco Board of Selectmen meeting on March 2. The issue was brought up by a resident during Public Participation but was also in the Manager’s Report on the agenda. It is a disconnect between the software program, which seems to have
expired at the end of 2020, and the actual sign, according to Casco Interim Town Manager Don Gerrish. Town staff have been unable to override the software and change the messages, he said. For now, the solution is to shut off the sign rather than confuse residents, he said. “I am going to shut it off,” he said. “We are looking for alternative software that would be compatible with the sign.”
“Talking around, we are not the only town having problems with the software,” Gerrish said. “We have separate software from the message board. The software that is used to run it — they updated their software on Jan. 1. When they updated it, the sign and the software aren’t working together. We have contacted both the sign people and the software contract people. The signs people said within a week they would get signs
to work. We are waiting for it to be resolved between the sign company and the software company,” Gerrish said. “We can’t even change it. We cannot take one panel down or two of the panels down” so it’ll be correct, he said. The gentleman who had mentioned the sign problem stepped up to the microphone again and said that perhaps it was because as he was getting older and cannot read as well as he
used to, but he felt there was a lot of information, a lot of word on each message. He was concerned it might be hazardous for drivers trying to read as they pass by. Maybe, shorter messages would be better, he said. Gerrish agreed, saying that there is a lot of information on the sign at one time, and perhaps once the sign is up and running again, the town could work on displaying shorter messages.
Steward of our Land
Jon Evans shares his love of the outdoors
TERRY SWETT (on right) plays at Stonehedge in May 2016. Swett composed the song My Sweet Maine for the state’s bicentennial last year. This year, LD-232 is proposing that My Sweet Maine become the state song of the 21st Century. (Photo by Donna Sanborn courtesy of Milltown Roadshow band)
My sweet Maine
Tune could become state song of century
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer This state’s bicentennial — which was not publicly celebrated in 2020 — became the reason that Bridgton resident and businessman Terry Swett penned the song, My Sweet Maine. It wasn’t hard for him to find inspiration. After all, Maine is the state that molded his personality and keeps him tethered by an invisible line. Like a Boomerang, no matter how far Swett travels, he returns
to his home state. “I felt compelled to do it [write the song]. I’ve traveled all over this great country. Every time I came back here, I’ve said, ‘There is nothing better,’” Swett said. The song had its debut in early March 2020 at the Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s breakfast. That was right before the statewide quarantine. A year later, the song My Sweet Maine has been thrust into spotlight. Two
state representatives, Rep. John Andrews (L-Paris, Buckfield, Hebron) and Rep. Walter N. Riseman (I-Harrison) — have cosponsored a bill LD-232 to recognize My Sweet Maine as Maine’s Song of the 21st Century. The politicians commented on the song in a press release. “This song is a true representation of Maine written by one of her own. My Sweet Maine has the ability TERRY, Page 2A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer Jon Evans works a job that allows him to hike for a living. Essentially, he gets paid to introduce other people to the joys of outdoor recreation. He has led many a full moon hike. Not only is he well-versed in the natural surroundings but also, he is knowledgable of the history of the area. As the stewardship manager of Loon Echo Land Trust (LELT), Evans helps with the acquisition of properties in his stomping ground. He is a native of Bridgton who still calls this town home. Evans was born on Aug. 24, 1964, in the old Bridgton Hospital on Main Street hill. His dad Jim Evans also was raised in Bridgton and his mom is related to the Shane family of Casco. He has four siblings: one sister and three brothers. After graduating from high school, Evans entered the workforce and “has enjoyed a variety of experiences throughout life,” he said. His children are grown: a daughter, Camille, who is student at Suffolk University in Boston and
JON EVANS participates in the Loon Echo Land Trust fundraiser, the Loon Echo Trek in 2017. (Photo courtesy of Jon Evans) a son, Maxwell, who is employed by a local contractor. Currently, Evans lives with “a beautiful and supportive partner, Terri and her children Brittany, Brianna and Riley. We are also blessed with a granddaughter Aemilea,” he said. His domestic pet isn’t your typical hiking partner. “After nearly 30 years with furry chow chow pups, now the queen of the hill is Daisy, a rescue kitty from Harvest Hills,” he said.
A few days after LELT hosted a snowshoe hike at Peabody-Fitch Woods, Evans took some time to field some questions for The Bridgton News. B-News: Going back to your childhood, do you have a distinct memory or time in your life when you decided that you really liked to be outdoors? Evans: Early in my life I was comfortable outdoors and spent a great deal of time fishing and riding Q/A, Page 3A
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