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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 150, No. 13
12 PAGES - 1 Section
Bridgton, Maine
March 26, 2020
Legal Notices . . . . . . . 7A
www.bridgton.com
(USPS 065-020)
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‘This won’t be a sprint, it will be a marathon’ By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer As Peter Wright closely watches the number of coronavirus cases increase in Maine and the nation, he knows “this is not going to be a sprint, it is going to be a marathon.” Reaching the one-year mark as Bridgton Hospital’s president, Wright is facing the most challenging moment of his healthcare career. The News conducted the following telephone interview with Wright Tuesday morning: BN: How has BH set up for testing, and the number of tests administered at this point? Is there a selection process as to who gets tested, and is there any shortages? Wright: Bridgton Hospital, in collaboration with our system, has been planning for this since it came
To-go or face closing doors
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer Usually, the collective noise of families and friends gathering and eating at tables is part of the experience at restaurants. The pandemic has put a hush to that. However, a few local restaurant owners have rolled up their sleeves, washed their hands and opted to continue serving patrons with to-go and/or delivery orders. Beth’s Kitchen Cafe is among the local restaurants staying open and catering to the public by offering pickup food orders. Additionally, Beth’s Cafe provides curbside service for customers who would rather remain in the vehicle. Earlier this month, owner Beth Doonan started to formulate a backup plan because she wanted her business to remain open and because she wanted to be there for her clientele, community members she has known for years. “Everyone is different. There are some people who just won’t cook — they need you. There are other people who need a place to go — they are scared. When something is open, they can come in and get some food,” she said. “Then, there are people who don’t want to come in. They want to maintain the isolation part of it so we will meet them at their car,” she said.
on our radar in early January. The public has been aware of it and taking it seriously for about two weeks. We have erected a tent outside of our ED (Emergency Department) to be able to test patients. Obviously, our number one priority is to serve and protect our community. Yes, we need to be a testing center for people who are appropriate. Two, the plan is to help folks understand when they need to be tested and when they don’t, and what the appropriate steps are to take. Most of our activity in the testing tent has been sending people home. Everybody is screened. You can call your primary care provider. Or you can call 2-11. They will take you through a series of questions to determine whether you should be tested or not. That’s very important because we don’t
want to be wasting resources on people who shouldn’t be tested. There has been some concern in the community that people want to be tested. Wait a minute…you need to meet the criteria first. We are seeing, like the rest of the nation, a shortage of supplies. We have not had a situation that we haven’t been able to test someone. We continue to follow and adhere to CDC guidelines, which, as the CDC learns more what is going on in the rest of the world, it changes and adapts. We meet several times a day as a Command Team and then spend the rest of the day communicating to our staff about the most recent updates, here is what you need to know. We are doing everything we can to keep our staff safe and protected. Do we have enough of every single supply
This is not going to be a sprint, it’s going to be a marathon.
— Peter Wright, Bridgton Hospital President
that we would want? I think the fair answer is “no.” Do we have enough of the right supplies to keep people safe? I think the fair answer is “yes.” Part of our message and training to our staff is that if you are doing “X” then this is the equipment you need. In the long-term, do I worry that we will have the equipment we need? Absolutely.
BN: If a person is experiencing serious virus complications, is that person treated here or moved to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston? Wright: We have our inpatient unit with negative pressure and can care for a patient to a certain point within the skill set at the hospital. Like any other day,
when a patient exceeds our skill set, then we transfer the patient to CMMC or another appropriate center based on availability. We are continuing to function like any other day. We have people with test results pending. BN: What are the most frequently asked questions BH has received; and how is VIRUS UPDATE, Page 6A
Staff sent home due to possible virus exposure
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — Last week, the Casco Town Hall was closed to the public. Unlike neighboring Naples, there was nobody working inside the locked building — at least for a while. “For a couple of days, staff were sent home due to potential exposure. However, those results were negative,” according to Casco Town Manager Courtney O’Donnell. “During that time, staff continued to work from home as much as possible. However, we have since returned to the office,” she said. “All steps taken were in accordance with the CDC’s recommendations and out of concern for both citizens and the employees,” she said. “The Town Office and Community Center are both closed to the public and will remain that way for as long as is needed for the safety of both citizens and our employees,” O’Donnell said. The Casco Community Center closed two weeks ago, on Friday, March 13, which was the same day that Maine reported its first presumptive positive test for the SMILES WITH MEALS — A good attitude is key, says the owner of Beth’s Kitchen Coronavirus. As the weekend approached, O’Donnell said she knew Cafe in Bridgton. Standing on the sidewalk, where curbside service is available to she would have to take proactive measures. customers, are (from left to right): Sean Day, Beth Doonan and Connor Smith. (De Busk Photo) EXPOSURE, Page 5A All the while, the focus of her business, of her small crew of employees, is on keeping a social distance from each other and from the customers. “This is our new temporary normal,” Doonan said. “We want to keep working. We want to keep feeding people. We want to serve you, feed you, and love you from a distance,” she said. “I am following what the state told us we could do,” she said. The writing was on the wall so Doonan started to cook up a plan before Gov. Janet Mills laid down mandates for restaurants. “Of course, when I knew it was hitting our area, I had a plan. You have to have a plan in order to make it through something like this. I was just complying with
whatever we were being asked to do. I knew it was going to happen,” she said. Besides a flexible plan, a positive attitude goes a long way. “My attitude makes a huge difference,” Doonan said. She told her staff if they didn’t want to work during this period, they were free to stay home. Then, there was a skeleton crew left to run the cafe each day. “Everybody seems to be supportive, very compliant with protocol,” she said. Other business-owners had a different take on the best approach for their establishments. For example, long-time businesses like Ricky’s Diner on Main Street, Morning Glory Diner on Portland Road in Bridgton
and Chute’s Cafe in South Casco, have weighed the advice of the Governor’s Office and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and decided to close temporarily. Meanwhile, the Bridgton House of Pizza — which was already set up for pickup — remained open. “We were busy tonight,” an employee named Bill said on Tuesday. “We have an online thing going on. We have the slice, which is online. You can order on your computer or on your phone,” he said referring to slicelife. com, which allows people to order pizza from their favorite pizzaria. It’s pickup only. In other words, per governor’s order, there is no sit-down dining. TAKE GO, Page 3A
“Jesus replied, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’” — Matthew 14:16, (Jesus feeds the 5,000) By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer HARRISON — It has been a minor miracle that area food banks are still able to feed those in need despite the fact that many grocery stores are struggling to keep shelves stocked with basic necessities. Just when it seemed like there might be a shortage, there came the news that extra food was available from pantry sites that had
been held in churches and were required to temporarily close. “Our volunteers are doing everything they can to bring enough food to the food bank to help everybody during this time of crisis,” said the Harrison Food Bank Executive Director Sandy Swett. “Last Tuesday, I saw a lot of people who were very desperate. They were very scared, afraid that they were going to lose their income and not be prepared,” Swett said. “We expect that our numbers are going to increase dramatically to deal with that.”
Harrison to hold ‘virtual’ hearing
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer HARRISON — Citing declining attendance numbers at the annual town meeting, Harrison officials suggested a different approach this year. Rather than hold a June meeting, Harrisonw residents will go to the polls not only to elect municipal officials, they will also decide whether to approve 33 warrant articles. Polls will be open on June 9, 2020 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m, in the meeting room at the town office. COVID-19 also forced another new twist. Normally, selectmen hold a public hearing to review and answer questions might have regarding the proposed budget and warrant articles. But the virus outbreak has prompted the town to hold a “virtual” public hearing tonight, March 26 at 6 p.m. “You can use your computer, tablet, iPad or smartphone. No one needs to come in and it will be recorded,” according to a message posted in the town’s electronic weekly update. A copy of the draft warrant will be posted on a computer VIRTUAL HEARING, Page 5A
Food banks perform ‘miracles’ During a time of crisis, people prevail and bravery emerges. “Everyone is helping to get us through this. Everyone is pitching in together. Everyone who is in food rescue has that on the forefront of their minds,” Swett said.
Both the Harrison Food Bank, which operates out of the Harrison VFW building, and CrossWalk Community Outreach, which uses the Naples Town Gymnasium, are still providing the service of holding a food pantry and FOOD, Page 3A
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