A tribute
Graduation Day
Remembering all those that sacrificed to protect this country
Inside News Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 7B
Over 1,500 people attend Fryeburg Academy’s commencement Sunday
Page 5A
Classifieds . . . . . . 4D-5D Country Living . . . 1B-8B Directory . . . . . . . . . . 3D
Page 1C
Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 6D Opinions . 1D-3D, 5D-8D Police/Court . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . 6C-8C Student News . . . 1C-5C Games . . . . . . . . . . . . 5C Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 5D
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 145, No. 22
32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
May 29, 2014
(USPS 065-020)
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Town eyes tower freeze
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Bridgton Selectmen agreed Tuesday to seek legal advice in the wake of an appeal by Hio Ridge residents to enact a moratorium on cell phone towers in town. The board will be asking the town attorney what jurisdiction the town has in terms of Federal Communications Commission laws, and what language the moratorium question should have if brought before voters in November. “I’m no attorney,” Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz told several Hio Ridge Road residents who brought the
request to Tuesday’s meeting. But, he said he’ll ask the lawyer whether the moratorium question can have a retroactivity clause that would ensure that no building permits can be issued for cell phone towers until the matter of minimum distances of towers from residences can be resolved. AT&T Mobility and American Towers currently have an application before the Bridgton Planning Board for a cell phone tower to be built on Hio Ridge Road. The board will continue its review of the application on June 17. Resident Judy Veit told selectmen the cell tower TOWER, Page A
‘Plaza-style’ design unveiled
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer An open “plaza-style” design will create a sense of space on Bridgton’s Depot Street, a civil engineer told Bridgton Selectmen Tuesday. Dustin Roma, civil engineer for Milone and MacBroom, unveiled the final design for the streetscape project, being funded by a combination of Community Development Block Grant and TIF funds. Bids are expected to go out in early July, and the four-to-sixweek construction period will begin in late August after the Bridgton Folk Festival. “Essentially, we’re creating a sense of space, and linking the parking area to the street,” said Roma, standing beside a large poster board depicting the plans. The street itself will be repaved after shimming with gravel and improving drainage, but that is all but incidental to the changes that will happen in terms of parking, sidewalks and lighting. To start with, on-street parking spaces have been added to the area just before the first entrance to the town’s parking lot, as well as the area between the Bridgton Community Center and the bridge. Concrete sidewalks
Casco board changes By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — With the change of the season from spring to summer, two seats on the Casco Board of Selectmen are up for renewal. Sometimes, a current board member runs again and is re-elected again. Other years, someone steps in and serves on the board for the first time – slightly changing the dynamics of the town’s elected officials. This year, after the polling date on June 10, two new people will be sworn in as three selectmen bid the board adieu. The resignation this week of Selectman Ray Grant will be effective June 10. That will leave the board with only four members. Grant could not be contacted Wednesday morning for a comment on his decision to resign. CHANGES, Page A
MOMENT SHARED BETWEEN DAD AND SON — Jared Galvin and his son, Colby, hold the POW flag on the Naples Causeway during Monday’s Memorial Day services. Jared is a captain with the Naples Fire and Rescue with brick or concrete bor- Department. More Memorial Day photos appear inside the A Section. ders have been added on both sides of the street, and there’ll be two well-defined formal crosswalks, one in front of Renys’ side entrance, and the other near the Community Center. A plaza area will also By Gail Geraghty Selectmen Tuesday. be created around the Center’s Staff Writer “It goes from 97 to 174 to flagpole. When it comes to parking 60 to eight,” Julie Whelchel To further add to the on Main Street in Bridgton, told the board, referring to pedestrian-friendly improve- Main Hill is Pondicherry the number of downtown ments, the first entrance to Square’s poor cousin — and Main Street parking spaces the parking lot from Main that’s just not fair, Main from Pondicherry Square Hill residents told Bridgton to Main Hill. She proposed PLAZA, Page A adding 14 spaces on the west side of Main Street going up the hill, and also allowing parking on the south side of Fowler and Walker Streets. The board agreed to cre- PARKING DISPARITY — Julie Whelchel led an appeal ate a committee to study at Tuesday’s Bridgton Selectmen meeting to increase the issue. parking availability in the Main Hill neighborhood. She But Police Chief Kevin used a map to show the dearth of parking on the Main Schofield said the west side Hill section of Main Street, when compared to points of Main Street going up closer to Pondicherry Square. PARKING, Page A
More parking sought for Main Hill
On the ballot
Hoyt, King for selectmen
HOW IT WORKS — Sitting on the deck of his home on Saturday, Wayne Holmquist demonstrates dowsing techniques with a plumb-bob, one type of tool used by dowsers. (De Busk Photo)
Dabbling in art of dowsing
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer RAYMOND — When Wayne Holmquist was attending college, he wrote a thesis paper on dowsing. He was able to accurately predict whether expectant mothers in the Eastern Maine Hospital maternity ward would give birth to a boy or girl, he said. Only one of the pregnant women received a half-correct answer and a bit of a surprise when she brought twins – a boy and a girl – into the world. Since his college years, the Raymond resident has continued to delve into dowsing. In fact, his hobby is almost like a second job. He has been asked by abutting neighbors of proposed developments to prove there are burial sites on the said land. He has been invited onto the rural properties by landowners who are curious where old family burial plots might be. Earlier this month, he gave a presentation to a crowded room at the Raymond-Casco Historical Society Museum. His calendar includes future talks at historical societies in Limington and Gorham. Holmquist’s tool is the plumb-bob; and his specialDOWSING, Page A
When Bridgton voters go to the polls, they will act on two, three-year terms for Board of Selectmen. Candidates are Paul Hoyt and Bernie King. Paul E. Hoyt Professional background: 21 years U.S. Navy; seven years retail store management; 15 years U.S. Postal Service Experience: Six years Board of Selectman/one year as Chairman Seven years President, Bridgton Recreation Advancement Group Seven years Baseball/ Softball Committee Why are you seeking to serve the town as an elected official? Why this particular board? Civic duty and being part of the process in finding solutions to town issues are important to me. Being on the board has been a learning experience for me, and I enjoy learning new things about our town as new topics are brought before the Board often. What experience and/or personal qualities do you bring to the position? Experience: Six years on Board of Selectmen and one year as Chairman. Personal qualities: Attention to details, problem-solving, enjoying and taking great pride in helping move Bridgton forward.
Paul Hoyt What is it about Bridgton that makes it the place you call home? Fond memories of vacationing on Highland Lake since 1956 prompted us to make Bridgton our home in 1997. We love the small town atmosphere, the lakes, the town meeting form of government and much more. What are the most pressing issues facing Bridgton? Long-range planning on topics such as downtown revitalization, Community Center/ Recreation facility expansion, town sewer system, passage and implementation of the
Bernard ‘Bernie’ King 2014 Town Comprehensive Plan, and state revenue sharing. Reminder: please get out and vote on June 10 and attend the Town Meeting on June 11. Bernard “Bernie” King Professional background: I started as a police officer in Willimantic, Conn. in 1972 after serving four years in the United States Air Force. I came to Bridgton in 1977 after being hired as a police officer. In 2010 I left Bridgton PD. As a police officer, I was called upon to resolve conKING, Page A
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