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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 144, No. 18
32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
May 2, 2013
(USPS 065-020)
Garden Scene . . . 1B-3B
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Agenda 21: Attempt to control world?
Don’t let them take your private property rights away. — Dr. Michael Coffman, guest speaker
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer The willingness of a Casco woman to question the reasoning behind her town’s emphasis on preserving open space led to a major gathering April 20 at Lake Region High School. A crowd of over 200 people, including Maine Governor Paul LePage, came to hear Dr. Michael Coffman lay out his analysis of a chilling plan originating at the United Nations to manipulate Americans out of their Constitutionallyguaranteed private property rights. Elaine Heuiser became concerned three months ago about the activities of the Casco Open Space
Commission, particularly with regard to her father’s land holdings on Route 302. She got on the Internet and began researching personal property rights. It wasn’t long before the name of environmental scientist Dr. Michael Coffman came up as a leading voice against the dangers of the UN’s Agenda 21 plan for a sustainable future, passed in 1992. Realizing he lived in Bangor, Heuiser asked if he would give a talk to Lake Region residents. Coffman agreed. Then, to her surprise, in a subsequent constituent meeting with LePage, the governor also agreed to attend. The stage is set Heuiser’s husband, retired
Lutheran minister Douglas Heuiser, introduced LePage to the crowd, which included Sen. James Hamper and several current and former selectmen and others active in local government. After LePage gave brief opening remarks, Heuiser then introduced Coffman. “Much of what you are going to hear from our next speaker you are going to find difficult to believe,” he said. “You’ll say I cannot believe this is happening in America. But history repeats itself, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. If we don’t learn from history we are doomed to repeat it. I believe this is Agenda 21 — this is the intent of the United Nations — absolute
power to control the world and gain enough power to change every aspect of humanity.” Over the next two hours, Coffman gave the crowd a PowerPoint history lesson to back up that claim. He spoke of how America’s educational system has shifted its emphasis over the last 60 or 70 years from one based on the teaching of facts to one based on Behavioral Science Teacher Education, or “the principles of progressivism.” He quoted Dr. Shirley McCune, a high-ranking official of the U.S. Department of Education, saying at a 1989 Governor’s Conference that, “We no longer see the teaching of
facts and information as the primary outcome. We must provide learner-directed learning.” Translated, said Coffman, McCune was advocating teaching methods to shape a very different future for society — one in which the controlling elite will engage in power plays largely without the involvement of most of the people. “In other words, you are being manipulated. One of the things I hope to help you understand, is that all of your beliefs are not necessarily your own,” Coffman told the crowd. “Our kids are being indoctrinated to learn in socialistic ways.” One of the more recent of Coffman’s five books, AGENDA, Page A
Referendum, election warrant finalized
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer It’s official — Ken Murphy is the only official candidate for the one open seat on the Bridgton Board of Selectmen. And Fred Packard, who originally wasn’t going to run again for the Planning Board, has changed his mind. On Monday, the day after the deadline for returning nomination papers for the Tuesday, June 11 local election had passed, Murphy wasn’t counting his chickens as a shoo-in selectmen just yet. Town elections are still over a month away, and the possibility exists
that a write-in campaign could arise, as it has occasionally over the years. The three-year open selectman’s seat is being vacated by veteran Selectman Woody Woodward, who has decided not to run again. “Twelve years is enough,” Woodward said earlier. “It’s time to switch up and let someone else have a turn.” Packard’s name will appear on the ballot along with fellow incumbent Steve Collins, the current chairman, for the two open three-year seats on the Planning Board. No one returned papers for the Planning Board Alternate posiWARRANT, Page A
Casco to charge $10 per each boat mooring By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — At some time in Casco’s recent history, a $10 fee was passed to register a mooring. But, mooring registrations were never enforced. A month ago, the current Casco Board of Selectmen reviewed a revamped mooring ordinance — one that will need to be adopted at town meeting in June.
On Tuesday, the board voted 4–1 to establish $10 as the standard charge for mooring registrations. Selectman Grant Plummer stood opposed and expressed his desire to delay for one boating season the implementation of the fee. “If we can just get (the mooring locations) on the books so we know how many we have. Then, we can charge people after spring 2014,” Plummer suggested. MOORING, Page A
Students hear about ‘fake weed’ dangers By Dawn De Busk and Wayne Rivet Staff Writers NAPLES – “Spice” is hardly nice. In fact, the so-called “fake weed” is potentially toxic, yet has become a “designer drug” and “fad” amongst teenagers. Spice, also known as K2, is being sold as an herbal incense. Although a warning — “not for human consumption” — is tacked to each
label, the synthetic material produces two to five times the “high” as marijuana, yet in some cases, has been deadly. When Lake Region High School’s nurse heard stories about teens using Spice, she spoke with Trident Academy students to research usage amongst teens, as well as develop an awareness program. On Monday, student leaders Sarah Paul, Courtney
Ferguson and Hunter Banks joined Maine State Trooper Steven Green to “give the facts” regarding Spice. Trooper Green, who has served as a liaison officer for SAD 61, told LRHS students that many teens are trying Spice with “no idea what the implications may be.” “We really don’t know that much about it,” Trooper Green admitted. “We do know, however, that it is dangerous.” Trooper Green said in 2011 Maine’s Poison Control received 41 calls from hospital personnel regarding patients who had entered emergency rooms complaining of a variety of symptoms after smoking Spice. Those symptoms included paranoia, hallucinations, elevated heart rate, respiratory issues, vomiting, numbness, pale skin and agitation. The number of calls increased to 55 in 2012. Although Spice is legal to possess, Trooper Green says law enforcement is taking a much closer look at the incense and suspects some type of regulation will be enacted in the near future. SPICE, Page A
BUFFING THE BRIDGE — An employee with Wyman and Simpson, Inc., the general contractor for the Bay of Naples Bridge project, buffs the surface of the concrete wall on the bridge Wednesday morning. (De Busk Photo)
Bridge: Work to be done
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Those commuters who drive unimpeded over the Bay of Naples Bridge might think the construction project is complete. But, there is still work to be done. The travelers who have recently passed through the construction zone during regular business hours may have already been briefly delayed, or caught sight of workers wearing orange vests and hard hats. Crews have been tying in the remaining boardwalk as well as buffing the bridge, according to Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) Resident Engineer Craig Hurd. “We are doing sidewalks and boardwalks, too. Today, we are doing the boardwalk for the amphitheater. We are working our way back to The Lost Lobster,” Hurd said on
Tuesday morning. Not visible from the roadway, workers from general contractor Wyman and Simpson, Inc., were also working on the side of the bridge. “They are rubbing the face of the concrete so it looks nice,” Hurd said. A sky jack, which functions like a miniature crane, took up a lane of traffic while crews spruced up the bridge’s surface, he said. Hurd estimated the general contractor had about a dozen people working on the job. A landscaping crew will
likely move into the picture during the first part of May, Hurd said. “The planting of trees will happen in another week or week and a half. We want to do the sod and finish the planting before Memorial Day,” he said. Sometime in mid-May, motorists should be prepared for longer traffic delays. “We are going to have some major delays coming up in a few weeks. They have to do a little repaving through the Causeway The MDOT does not allow paving to take place before
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