Garden Scene Club looking to restock membership with youth; Market moves outdoors Page 6A
Busy sports week
Inside News
Despite rainy days, local high school teams were competing and earning big wins
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 8A Classifieds . . . . . . 6B-7B Country Living . . 9A-11A
Page 1B
Directory . . . . . . . . . . 7B Obituaries . . . . . . 8B-9B Opinions . . . . . . 8B-11B Police/Court . . . . . 4A-5A Sports . . . . . . . . . 1B-4B Student News . . . . . . 5B Games . . . . . . . . . . . 11B
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 149, No. 18
24 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
May 3, 2018
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 7B
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Naples holds line on budget
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Voting Naples residents face some necessities that might be hard to ignore like replacing the town gymnasium’s leaky roof. In fact, there are a number of expenditures in the town’s capital improvement plan. The roof is the most expensive with an estimated cost of $110,000. Other proposed capital improvements include purchasing a new one-ton truck and a plow for the maintenance department ($40,000); installing digital mapping ($18,500); constructing a storage garage and batting cages at the Plummer Memorial Field ($7,000); and replacing masonry work on the town’s brick buildings EXAMINING THE PROJECT LAYOUT SKETCH are Bridgton Planning Board members Dee Miller (left) and Deb ($25,000). Improvements to Brusini prior to the site walk at the former Saunders dowel mill, the targeted property for a 68-room, conference the town cemeteries, such center hotel proposed by local developer Justin McIver, owner of Main Eco Homes. (Rivet Photos) as replacing headstones and removing dangerous tree limbs, are also budgeted at $25,000. The proposed 2018 budget is $12,147.707, which is a 4% increase from last year. The total budget number includes the School Administrative District (SAD) 61 budget, which is about $7.5 million, By Wayne E. Rivet date has been set yet, according to and the Cumberland County Staff Writer Administrative Assistant Brenda Day. budget, which is approxiIf opening night is any indication, one When a date is scheduled (possibly in a mately $500,000. can expect the Hotel Bridgton review couple of weeks), public notice will be process to be a marathon, not a sprint. made, Day said. With over 100 people in attendance Key points made in the town office downstairs meeting Nearly 100 people attended a site room, project developer Justin McIver walk at the former mill site on Saturday, and his team gave a brief overview of April 21. Some attendees voiced their the 68-room facility proposed for the disappointment that the developer failed former Saunders dowel mill site, border- to fly balloons from all corners of the ing Bacon and Kennard Streets. proposed hotel to illustrate the height of By Dawn De Busk Fire Chief Stephen Fay said the room the three-story structure. Staff Writer contained the maximum of 172 seats, Gusting wind created a safety probCASCO — The deadand once filled, people would be turned lem, so the developer (Justin McIver, line is fast approaching for away (the hearing was live-streamed on owner of Main Eco Homes) had orange the mobile homes and other the local cable public access channel). tape attached to an existing silo to structures to be removed Although the room did not reach indicate the roof line. The hotel’s posifrom the 11-acre lot, which MAKING A STATEMENT — This seating capacity, the energy level and tioning was outlined by orange paint was purchased by the town a passion was high throughout the hearing sprayed along the ground, while stakes sign appears on Bacon Street, and few years ago. others like it have been posted as several residents posed a variety of were positioned to indicate entry/exit The agreement is part of throughout Bridgton. questions and concerns. points. the Purchase and Sale conPlanning Board Chairman Steve At the hearing last Wednesday Oakley was concerned that sudden proj- tract between the former Collins set the ground rules asking that night, lead presenter, Michael Tadema- ect changes would prevent the public landowner Lucy Jackson and the developer address points made in Wielandt, P.E., of Terradyn Consultants, from “properly preparing comment on the Town of Casco. the town’s Review Standards, and then reiterated that the project is a work in changes.” The town withheld Collins noted that no changes have he opened the floor for public comment progress as the development team con$10,000 of the sale price and concerns. tinues to engage in conversations with been made to this point, and planners contingent on the removal of “Let’s keep this as productive and various groups (such as historical orga- will review what is presently being structures and other personcivil as we can,” Collins said. nizations) for feedback and suggestions. proposed. al belongings, according to Project attorney Mark Bauer noted There are 24 standards in the review Resident Tom Smith, who owns rentCasco Town Manager Dave process. al units on Kennard Street, wondered that it is not uncommon for changes Morton. After three-hours, just three stan- if it was a “waste of time” running the to be made once a developer receives “The $10,000 we withdards had been tackled. At 9:06 p.m., project through the Review Standards certain feedback. held to make sure that Lucy Collins recessed the hearing. No new if the plan will change. Resident Doug REVIEW, Page 3A removed all the materials after the sale. The other reason is that we allowed [the tenants] to occupy the property after we held the title,”
Expect lengthy review
Hotel Bridgton plan goes to planners
The good news is: The tax rate will remain the same, according to Naples Town Manager John Hawley. On Monday night, there was joint meeting of the Naples Budget Committee and the Naples Board of Selectmen. The objective was to approve the warrant articles for the annual town meeting, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 9. The town meeting warrants can be viewed online by going to www.townofnaples. org. The warrant articles as well as the proposed ordinances and ordinance amendments are located on the home page below the aerial view of the Causeway. The budget committee met with the board this Monday and also on the previous Monday, April 23. It should be noted that selectmen Jim Grattelo and Jim Turpin serve as voting members of the budget committee. Other budget committee members who were present at both meetings are Chairman Kent Uicker, Caleb Humphrey and Vice-Chairman Robert Nyberg. As the budget was presented, the committee had already increased the funding used for programs to mitiBUDGET, Page 11A
Mobile homes to be removed
Turning 90: ‘I was a busy boy’
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NORTH BALDWIN — Norman McKinney is from the generation that received their early education from the proverbial one-room schoolhouse. The concept of walking a mile to and from school rings true. However, there’s a twist. “Sometimes, the snow was so deep that one of the eighth graders had to carry me on his shoulders,” said McKinney, 90, as he recalled his life as a first grader. “I went to a one-room schoolhouse in North Baldwin with all eight grades. Pretty much, school was very seldom called off, no matter what the weather. Each grade was being taught in the room during the day. You heard everything because there was just one room. You learned a lot from the older grades,” McKinney said. “There was a big, circular stove, and the winters were so cold that everybody had to gather right around it.” “In my eighth grade year, I was made part-time custodian, tending the fire and lugging the drinking water in a pail for a quarter mile from the springs,” he said. Students in the area attended Potter Academy for their high school education, he said. That was where he met his wife, Pearl, during his sophomore year. Later in life, McKinney worked as the bus driver for Potter Academy in Sebago and as the head custodian for the Baldwin Consolidated Elementary School. For this 90th birthday, his school co-workers, who are like a second family to him, got together for birthday cake and some socializing. That happened at a private home on April 13. The following day, April 14, he had another birthday party with more guests at the Baldwin Community Center, which had formerly been the school. TURNING 90, Page 5A
Candidate forum set for May 16 FRYEBURG — Who is running for Fryeburg offices and why are they seeking public office? Local residents can find out on Wednesday, May 16. The Fryeburg Water District trustees will be hosting a candidates’ forum at 6 p.m. at the American Legion Hall on Bradley Street. Candidates will introduce themselves briefly and then a public question and answer session will be moderated by Water District trustees. The FWD trustees
LONG TIME IN THE LIMELIGHT — Norman McKinney, of North Baldwin, was a bus driver and the head custodian for area schools, plus he ran a summer camp and served as a selectman for 39 years. He turned 90 years old on April 13. (Photo courtesy of Norm McKinney)
Morton said. The Casco Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, April 24, focused on the cleanup of the town-owned lot rather than how it will be developed. An ad-hoc committee has been reviewing what could be done with the land, including planting native trees, creating a picnic park, making a walking trail that loops to the Memorial School baseball field and using the beach for low-impact water recreational activities. The development of the land is a future endeavor, Morton said. Right now, the focus is on cleaning up the property, he said. In addition to hauling away the structures, it is likely a few, hazardous trees will be removed, he said. “When we want to develREMOVED, Page 11A
include: Greg HuangDale, Nickie Sekera, Nels Liljedahl, Scot Montgomery and Tom Rebmann. All are welcome. Seeking office are: Selectman (one seat, three years): David Brown and Tom Kingsbury. Chairman Janice Crawford is not seeking reelection. SAD 72 (three seats, three years): Mary Di Nucci, Nicole Goggin and Allison Leach. Residents vote on June 12.
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