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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 150, No. 14
20 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
April 4, 2019
(USPS 065-020)
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
BH chief tackles questions By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Growing up, Peter Wright’s mother owned a coffee shop in New Jersey. One lesson he learned was, “It’s all about people.” Wright has applied
Search shows promise
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — This town’s elected officials are working with the most promising candidates to schedule a second round of interviews for the town manager position. Already marked off the check list is the initial interview process, which happened in March, according to Holly Hancock, the chairman of the Casco Board of Selectmen. The next step for the selectmen is to review the job contract and then to conduct the second interviews. “We are going to meet to finalize the agreement, and then set up the second round of interviews,” Hancock said on Tuesday. The board is in the process of hiring the person to replace Casco Town Manager Dave Morton, who is retiring after 40 years in that role. Morton has said that he hopes to retire in June. For the job search process, the selectmen hired the Maine Municipal Association (MMA), which handled the advertising and received the resume packages. “We had 22 applicants. We had candidates from all over the United States,” Hancock said. She declined to say how many of those total applicants were actually interviewed. “A couple weeks ago, we did the interviews. We are getting ready to do the second round,” she said. The timeline for hiring is not set in stone, and depends on when the chosen candidate can start. “We want to have someone in place that can have a little bit of time with Dave [Morton] so that person will be ready when Dave is ready to leave,” Hancock said. Basically, the person would be able to job shadow. Hancock was uncertain if the interview process would take a few weeks or longer. “It depends on the availability of the folks that we are bringing in for the second round,” she said. Other towns, such as the Town of Gorham, have set up a meet and greet when the selectmen were down to the final two candidates. Casco won’t do it that way. “Once we have selected the final candidate, we will publicize the name of the person and set up an opportunity for people to meet that person,” Hancock said. “There hasn’t been a lot of input from the public” prior to putting together the advertisement for the job vacancy — even though the board openly asked for input, she said. However, Hancock and Selectman Mary Fernandes sat down with town employees to get an idea of the qualities and skills those working directly with a town manager thought were most important.
that lesson to his role as president of Bridgton and Rumford Hospitals. “We are people taking care of people. We don’t take care of patients, we take care of our friends, neighbors and our relatives. I think that’s what makes the mission at Bridgton Hospital so special and why it is so personal. Our staff, you know them. You see them on the street, the soccer field and at Hannaford. That’s why I chose to come to a place like this. It’s why I haven’t gone to large, academic medical centers. I don’t want to get lost and I don’t want to lose sight of what is important — the patients,” Wright told a packed room at Campfire Grille Tuesday morning as the guest speaker of a Meet & Greet sponsored by the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce. “There are plenty of options to get healthcare. Patients choose to come to Bridgton Hospital. So, my mission is to create an environment at Bridgton where our staff get up every day and can’t wait to come to work just like me, and
actively choose to come to Bridgton because it’s the kind of place they can make a difference.” Wright said accepting the job as BH president was “a really easy decision for me. We have an incredible staff here and some great professionals.” Wright has been involved in healthcare for 18 years, strictly with critical care hospitals in very small communities in New Hampshire and Vermont. “I truly understand what northern New England life is like,” he said. He and his wife, Karen
(who is a nurse at DartmouthHitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire), have a home in Winthrop, and have a “blended family” that includes four children between the ages of 18 to 29. The Wrights also have a grandchild. As to his background, Wright gave the audience a quick timeline which included attending Lyndon State College (where his uncle went to school) and working in the ski resort business as well as a law enforcement officer for 6½ years. He moved on to work WRIGHT, Page 2A
MEET AND GREAT — New Bridgton Hospital President Peter Wright talks with Bridgton Town Manager Robert Peabody after Tuesday’s Chamber breakfast. (Rivet Photo)
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — Bridgton Hospital President Peter Wright paid a visit to the Casco Board of Selectmen recently. He said his primary purpose was to introduce himself to the elected officials of the various municipalities which the hospital serves. “I am very interested in
working with our municipal communities,” he said, recalling his experience in rural towns as a volunteer firefighter and as a law enforcement officer. Prompted by the selectmen’s questions, Wright discussed the advantages of being an emergency room patient at the closest hospital and potential collaborations between the vocational
technology school and the hospital. Selectman Thomas Peaslee asked a question. “Cost-wise — is there any advantage to going to Bridgton versus a bigger hospital,” Peaslee asked. Wright said that there are many variables, including insurance coverage. “It depends. Given the opportunity, always go to
Wright visits Casco officials
SHARING HER GIFT — Once a classical violinist, Sara Kapinos of Waterford changed careers and became a nurse. She recently started sharing her musical gift with patients at Bridgton Hospital. (Rivet Photo)
Good medicine
Dose of violin brightens patients’ day
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer As a nurse, Sara Kapinos strives to make patients comfortable, help them heal, and provide whatever support she can to make their hospital stay as positive as possible. She has a vibrant smile. Her enthusiasm is infectious. She has incredible drive to give 110% effort in every undertaking, whether she is working the Medical/ Surgical wing, the outpatient clinic or operating room. “I am a true float nurse,” said Sara, after listing the numerous departments she has worked in since her arrival at Bridgton Hospital in 2011. “What I like about nursing is that there are a number of things you can do, and you don’t have to do the same things every day. I haven’t done OB, although as a supervisor I have helped out in the OB world. I have six kids, so I’ve tried to avoid that.” Just recently, Sara discovered that her lifelong
love of playing violin can be the best medicine a patient might receive. “This year, I realized I could put the two together,” Sara said. “I was asked to play at Christmas at the nurses’ luncheon. At first, I wasn’t sure about playing in front of my peers. People knew I played. I reluctantly agreed to play, and the staff loved it (she also played at Rumford Hospital).” Sara then performed for small groups of patients in Bridgton Hospital’s quiet room. The soothing sound of the violin touched their hearts and soul, leaving some in tears and others very thankful to their “special angel,” who added a little brightness to their day. “It was a surprise. She was incredible, overwhelming,” said Ron H., a recent patient at Bridgton Hospital. “She has this incredible spirit.” Battling through pain and isolation of being confined to four walls of a hospital room, patients found hearing Sara’s violin as a short reprieve from their
prognosis and uncertainty that may lie ahead. “For some patients, they were on cloud nine for the rest of the day and didn’t think about their situations. It’s a good therapeutic diversion,” Sara added. “Studies after studies show how therapeutic music and painting can be as part of patient healing. We just need to incorporate it more.” Kate Carlisle, director of communications and community affairs at Central Maine Healthcare, saw a Facebook post of Sara’s performance in Rumford, and pitched the idea to NewsCenter Maine’s “207” program to do a feature on Sara. They did. The feature recently aired (and can be seen on the channel’s website), and the response has totally surprised Sara. “Since the program aired, I’ve had all kinds of people send me e-mails, contacting me, asking me if I will keep doing it? I say, ‘Of course I am. I made a promise that I would. It’s on
the record. I did one today, one down. I’ve talked about doing one at the Recovery Center, and use proceeds to benefit them. Whatever helps patients,” she said. “I didn’t think it was that big a deal at all. I am still very surprised the difference it has made. It really VIOLIN, Page 10A
a smaller hospital. It is just better for what they do. He said there are more sick people and more germs at a bigger hospital, which might put the walk-in patient at risk. Also, he mentioned that the wait is shorter at smaller facilities. He referred to the golden hour. A patient who is seen within an hour of arriving at the ER has a better chance of improving or being diagnosed. Chairman Holly Hancock explained that she was a firefighter and often drove the ambulance. “We take them to Bridgton and they will be seen sooner. They can do all the tests there. Another thing about a local hospital is we bill them for the number of miles we drive,” she said. Wright responded by talking about supporting the local economy. “The more care you get locally, more of that money goes to the community. All things being equal, keep it local,” he said. Selectman Grant Plummer spoke, too. “I know there are courses at the high school level for RNs. My hope is that you guys being around the corner from the high school, I hope there is a strong relationship there to guide those kids,” he said. Wright agreed it would be a good partnership that could offer a promising career for high schoolers. “It is an extremely awarding profession to help people,” he said. He said if they do an internship during their high school years, it fosters a loyalty to the hospital. He talked about a program offered by a hospital in New Hampshire. “While they are juniors, we were getting them into the hospital doing an apprenticeship. Before they graduated, they had a guaranteed job with us,” he said. “Beyond that, we have CASCO VISIT, Page 2A
IT’S COMPLICATED… BUT WE ARE RAISING THE PRICE OF THE NEWSPAPER. Maine Sales Tax of 5.5% creates an odd price, so to make things easier for our vendors and customers… As of April 18, 2019 the price of the NEWS will be $.94 + $.06 tax = $1.00 3T14
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