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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 149, No. 28
32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
July 12, 2018
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 5D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Bridgton Selectmen
Resident: What’s happening at BH? By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer With Bridgton experiencing unprecedented growth, resident Ursula Flaherty is concerned about whether the local hospital will meet the needs of the community in wake of numerous physician departures and some reduction of services. “Hospitals are facing complex issues,” Flaherty told selectmen during the public comment on non-agenda items, especially since the state will not expand the Medicaid program. “Access (to healthcare) is difficult now. My physician is now making appointments six months out. A number of people are experiencing it. After talking with some physicians, this is a serious issue… Churches and the hospital are pillars of the community.” Noting how other small hospitals around the country have closed, Flaherty wonders what is happening at
Bridgton Hospital and what does the future hold for the facility. She suggested that selectmen set up a meeting with BH president David Frum to get some answers. “It’s not unreasonable to check in with the hospital about its future plans,” Selectman Carmen Loan said. Selectman Bear Zaidman made a motion instructing the town manager to set up a meeting with Frum. In other business from Tuesday’s Bridgton selectmen’s meeting: Tax rate dips: Dennis Berube of John E. O’Donnell & Associates, the town’s assessing agent, likes when he can deliver good news that the local tax rate has dropped. With Bridgton’s assessed property valuation jumping $14,447,598 to $974,168,446 and a slight increase in personal property value (about $6,000), Berube reported that the tax rate will be $14.80 per BRIDGTON, Page 2A
Area news briefs
Expand coverage? CASCO — Expanding health care coverage to parttime town employees is being considered by local selectmen. Currently, health insurance is offered to full-time town employees. Those people working less than 40 hours a week have the option to purchase insurance plans. As it stands, health insurance is also provided for members of the Casco Fire and Rescue Department and their immediate families. The topic was brought up publicly for the first time at the Casco Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday. The subject of expanding health insurance coverage to more town employees was tabled and will be on the agenda of the upcoming meeting on Aug. 7. According to Chairman Holly Hancock, the public safety department personnel receive health insurance benefits because they are not paid. The exception would be a modest stipend for employees who man the station for 12 hours during the day. “The reason we have done that for firefighters and immediate family members is that it doesn’t pay much. So, it [health insurance] is a small benefit,” Hancock said. The request — being put before the selectmen — is
to modify the town policy regarding who qualifies for health coverage. It was presented along with the review of emergency medical bills that were overdue and were being sent to collections. “Here is the question we have,” Hancock said, “If we are not providing health insurance for our municipal employees who are not fulltime, if we write off the bill, isn’t that essentially providing health insurance?” “I think that is something we need to figure out. I don’t have a good answer for that — without a little research,” Hancock said. Selectman Thomas Peaslee had asked what other towns do. Later, he commented that a health insurance package could attract more applicants to town jobs. Selectman Calvin Nutting expressed his concerns. “That is a legal question. It is going to be complicated by Bulky Waste Facility employees,” Nutting said, referring to a facility shared with the Town of Naples. Chairman Hancock spoke again. “We have employees who have health insurance, but it is not provided by the Town of Casco,” she said. “We will table that until we know more.”
Beach reopened It is safe again to swim at the Woods Pond beach area. Late last Friday, the Town of Bridgton received a phone call from the Center for Disease Control. The CDC reported that several people became ill with abdominal issues after swimming in Woods Pond between July 2 and July 6. The town closed the beach immediately. The town was unable to sample the water and diagnose the cause until the testing facility reopened Monday morning, July 9. Until then, town officials suggested beachgoers could visit Highland Lake Beach, Sabatis Island and Salmon Point. Tuesday morning, town officials received the test results from Paris Utility District in South Paris, for the Woods Pond swim area. Test
BACK IN BUSINESS — A good water test reopened Woods Pond Beach Tuesday. results were 3 E.Coliform. The acceptable limit is 235, therefore the sampling passed and the swim area was reopened immediately. BEACH, Page 2A
FAIR BUILDINGS LEVELED OR DAMAGED — Fire destroyed the sheep barn and an adjacent cattle shed Tuesday evening at Fryeburg Fairgrounds. There were no injuries to people or animals. Seven other buildings were damaged by the blaze, which erupted around 7 p.m. Damage has been estimated at about a half-million dollars. The Fire Marshal’s Office was on the scene hoping to determine the cause. More than 20 departments responded, bringing the blaze under control by 9 p.m. Officials expect the destroyed structures to be rebuilt by the time the popular fall fair returns. Top photo taken by David Andrews shows firefighters fighting the blaze, while his dad, Roy Andrews (the fair superintendent) photographs the moment; at right, an aerial photo from a plane provided by pilot Eric Meltzer; at left, embers can be seen above a sign saying, “This is a smoke-free area,” taken by Rachel Andrews-Damon.
Legacy of stewardship, stories Gyger’s sudden passing leaves void By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer When longtime friend Jon Evans was asked to describe Tom Gyger, he called him “an open book, that sometimes was hard to read.” “A complex man, very caring, completely devoted to his family and community,” he added. “Always deep in thought, I wondered how he ever slept! We did not always agree, but that was not important to us, having the healthy dialogue was paramount.” Tom always had a story to tell, whether it regarded his passion — growing apples and maintaining the sprawling 216-acre farm, Five Fields Farm in South Bridgton — or any number of topics, especially history. The length of any indepth conversation depended upon how much time one had to listen. Tom liked to talk, for sure, unless he was on a mission, like picking up a few items at the grocery store. “People would be standing with money in their hands to buy apples, but Dad would continue on and on with his story,” said son, David. “He had a wealth of knowledge about a lot of things. He was a constant learner.” John Thomas Gyger III passed away unexpectedly last Wednesday night, July 4, due to a medical event. He was 70. He left a legacy that included being a steward of a family apple orchard operation, which started in the 1920s when his father, John, purchased the property, as well as conservationist, historian and ski enthusiast, which landed the longtime ski patrol member into the Maine Ski Hall of Fame. Five Fields Farm was his love. It was a natural name STEWARD OF THE FAMILY ORCHARD — Tom for the Route 107 orchard, since five fields were planted as Gyger had a passion for growing apples and protecting orchards. Tom and his wife, June, took over the day-to-day the beauty of his 216-acre farm in South Bridgton. operation of the orchard in the mid 1980s. If he was not out spraying or moving irrigation pipes, Tom acted like the Pied Piper, leading youngsters, teachers and parents through the orchard, talking about the life cycle of an apple and the hisEstablished 1870 tory of the farm. “Tours, that was his thing,” June said. “Tom loved to share P.O. Box 244, 118 Main St. the things he knew. He was a voracious reader. When he Bridgton, ME 04009 was growing up, he’d take an encyclopedia to bed with him. 207-647-2851 Always reading.” Fax: 207-647-5001 His range of knowledge was on full display at the Magic bnews@roadrunner.com PASSING, Page 8A
The Bridgton News