Fryeburg Academy Winter Sports Awards
Loon Echo Workday
Inside News Calendar . . . . . . . 6A, 9A
Recognition of achievements
It’s time to spruce up Pleasant Mountain Preserve trails.
Page 7B
Page 7A
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 5B Country Living . . . 7A-9A Directory . . . . . . . . . . 6B Obituaries . . . . . . 5A-6A Opinions . . . . . . . 1B-5B Police . . . 3A-5A, 9A-10A Sports . . . . . . . . 6B-10B Games . . . . . . . . . . . . 9B
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 149, No. 12
20 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
March 22, 2018
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 8B
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Tax assistance plan targets local seniors By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Each Thursday, selectmen hear various requests to be considered in the next municipal budget. Bear Zaidman, however, pointed out that one group that could use a financial break rarely gets considered, but should — Bridgton senior citizens. “We fund outside organiza-
tions $85,000 a year,” he said. “We should help our own.” Selectmen could follow the path taken by other Maine towns by instituting a property tax assistance program. William Shane, who serves as Cumberland’s town manager, gave Bridgton selectmen an overview of his town’s program, which Shane said has been quite “successful” since it went into effect 11 years ago.
“It’s the single most important thing I’ve done in my career…[The program] does something for our people who have been supporting our community for years,” Shane said. “It’s such a positive thing. It’s doing the right thing for the right reason.” Shane noted that some aspects of the program can be tailored to what selectmen feel may be more appropriate
for the town they serve. “It’s all up to what you want to do,” Shane said. Here’s how Cumberland approaches property tax assistance for seniors: The program, which is allowed by the state legislature, provides property tax assistance to individuals 70 years of age and over, who reside in the town; The applicant shall have
a homestead (defined as a dwelling owned or rented by the person seeking tax assistance or held in a revocable living trust for the benefit of that person, and the dwelling must be occupied by that person and that person’s dependent as a home) in town at the time of the application and for the entire year prior to the date of application. In regards to “rent” constituting prop-
Historic first meeting of Sebago SAU School Board By Allen Crabtree Special to The News SEBAGO — March 1 was a historic educational moment for Sebago. The new Sebago School Administrative Unit (SAU) Board met for the very first time. It was an historic event and represented two years of challenging work negotiating an agreement with SAD 61 to withdraw and for Sebago to create an independent SAU. This agreement was overwhelmingly approved by Sebago voters at a Nov. 7, 2017 referendum and keeps Sebago Elementary School from being closed. It allows Sebago to run its own elementary school as the town used to and insures a top-quality education for Sebago children. Older Sebago students
erty tax, 15% of the gross rent actually paid in cash or its equivalent during the tax year solely for the right of occupancy of a homestead. Gross rent simply is right of occupancy, it does not include other charges such as utilities, furnishings, etc. The applicant has been a resident of the town for at least 10 years immediately precedTAX ASSIST, Page 4A
Maple Sunday:
On tap this weekend Tina Vanasse
Joe McMahon
Wendy Newcomb
will be tuitioned to middle and high schools of parents’ choice. At a special election on Feb. 27, 2018, Sebago voters elected the first three members of what will become a
five-member SAU School Board. There were five candidates running for the initial three board positions. Elected to serve a one-year term was Joe McMahon, a two-year term by Tina Vanasse, and
a three-year term by Wendy Newcomb. The other two board members — one for a two-year term and one for a three-year term — will be elected at a town referendum on June 12, 2018 along with voting on the SAU budget. The time line is very short
Firehouse Chatter
SEBAGO SAU, Page 5A
No ‘secretary’ for Naples
CHAMPION/CHRISTIE WATER TOWER intended to fight large fires in multistory buildings. It was American-made and bought by the Toledo, Ohio fire department in 1897. In 1915, it was motorized with a gasoline-fueled tractor and remained in service until 1950. (Photo by Elaine Rioux)
More from Arizona…
By Jay Spenciner While in Arizona, we spent a few hours at the Hall of Flame, Museum of Firefighting in Phoenix. I’m not suggesting that people make this a day trip from the Lake Region, but if you find yourself in Arizona, it’s a fine way to spend half a day. The museum has five galleries; one
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer For many Mainers, maple syrup is synonymous with the month of March. For producers, this winter’s weather has offered some windows of opportunity for tapping. Many have tapped half their trees and hope the run will last through early April. Area producers are ready to offer some old-fashioned hospitality to people during the 36th annual Maine Maple Sunday. Besides tours of the sugar house and sugar bush, Gray Farm Maple, LLC., in Denmark has children-friendly MAPLE SUNDAY, Page 10A
contains hand- and horse-drawn apparatus, three have motorized apparatus, and lastly, a wild land firefighting gallery. Over 90 fully-restored apparatus are on display. There is also a National Firefighting Hall of Heroes which contains the names of over 9,000 firefighters who died in the line of , Page 3A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — She is not called “secretary” anymore. Kate Matthews’ new title is administrative assistant. This language change does not impact Matthews’ duties. “The term secretary is being phased out. It’s rarely used in the job market. The Maine Municipal Association (MMA) does include it on its salary list,” according to Naples Town Manager John Hawley. That was among some of the changes made since Hawley came aboard as fulltime town manager less than a month ago. He recapped some of his activities during the past couple weeks. “The first two weeks, I’ve had a busy schedule. I’ve met with staff and department heads. I’ve toured the fire station. I’ve toured each of the municipal roads. Right now, it’s hard to assess the roads, but we’ll identify the problem areas,” he said. The Cumberland County Regional Communications Center (CCRCC) was another place that Hawley toured. Additionally, he attended his first regional town man-
agers gathering, which meets monthly to address common issues, he said “It gave me an opportunity to network with the managers. Some I had known from my previous town manager days and some were new and I had an opportunity to be introduced,” Hawley said.
During the Naples Board of Selectmen meeting on March 12, Hawley addressed the continuing budget process and how to fit in an employee salary raise. “Setting wage increases for next budget — how have we done it in the past,” MANAGER, Page 4A
Naples to review dock configuration ordinance By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Naples is a town where lakes abound, multiple marinas thrive, and the local economy relies on people being in town longer because they are doing waterbased activities. Meanwhile, for private landowners on the lakes, the dock can be the springboard for summertime goings-on. Therefore, any ordinance or law governing docks is something this town’s elected officials would like to have carefully crafted to give dock own-
ers’ the most leeway while taking into account public safety. In other words, the Town of Naples is trying to maintain control over an ordinance that would govern the configuration of docks. The solution is to put the dock configuration ordinance on a fast track to this year’s annual town meeting. The Naples Town Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 9. The Naples Board of Selectmen sent the dock ordinance directly to the Naples Ordinance Review DOCKS, Page 4A
Winter recreation gets fallout from snow storm By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer OXFORD — A snowstorm is heaven sent for any business based on winter recreation. “It was a blessing,” said Anne Carter, the owner of Carter’s Cross-Country Ski, with locations off Route 26 in Oxford and in Bethel. “We were almost at the point that we were going to close down the ski shop in Oxford. There was not much business. The trails had deteriorated — you could see the
bare ground,” Carter said. “We were saved by the bell, saved by the snow,” Carter said. “Now, we have people skiing, renting and buying equipment.” This month’s latest Nor’easter gave the region’s ski trails and snowmobile trails a reprieve from being closed due to trail conditions. The snowstorm covered any bare spots with a foot-anda-half of new snow between the period of March 13 and 14. The previous week’s
snowfall resulted in about 9 inches, some of which consolidated prior to the midmonth storm. Carter estimated the Oxford site received about two feet of snow from the two snowstorms combined. “All the snow and the longer daylight helped to get people outside — enjoying the winter still,” she said. Carter worked in Bethel over the weekend, but she talked with an employee in Oxford.
“Families with kids and adults were skiing, not just our season pass holders. There were some new people, trying to get outside in the snow before it goes away,” Carter said. The north wind, with gusts up to 30 miles per hour, did not deter people from getting outdoors on Saturday and Sunday, she said. “Once they get into the woods, it is much more protected. With cross-country skiing, you are moving and
staying warm. If you dress a little warmer, you get really hot sometimes. It is very aerobic,” Carter said. Tom Gyger, who owns
Five Fields Farm in South Bridgton, relies on the snow to host the Mushers’ Bowl in January, and to turn the apple WINTER REC, Page 2A
The Bridgton News Established 1870
P.O. Box 244, 118 Main St. Bridgton, ME 04009 207-647-2851 Fax: 207-647-5001 bnews@roadrunner.com