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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 147, No. 30
32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
July 28, 2016
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 5D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Off to greener spot?
Wells running dry
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Each Saturday, the municipal parking lot adjacent to the Bridgton Community Center is buzzing with activity. Many locals and visitors peruse fresh produce and other products at the Farmers’ Market, while others park their vehicles and shop stores along Depot and Main Streets. Others head to the Magic Lantern to watch the latest must-see movie or kick back for lunch at the Tannery Pub. Busy is good for business. But, congestion is becoming a big problem. Frank Howell, owner of the Magic Lantern and Downeast Industries voiced some concerns with town officials regarding the “very crowded” situation at the Depot Street parking area. Howell noted that he avoids having tractor-trailer trucks making deliveries to Downeast on a Saturday because heavy use of the parking lot would prevent a truck from accessing the Downeast facility. Another issue is reduced parking for Magic Lantern patrons. Howell wondered why the Farmers’ Market had not returned to its place along the grassy edges along Depot Street, which would ease
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Hot days and little rain, a perfect combination for those on vacation. However, dry conditions have some citizens in a panic. Bridgton’s Deputy Town Manager Georgiann Fleck has received calls from citizens looking for a water source since their wells have gone dry. Fleck told selectmen Tuesday night that callers were instructed to use a spigot located to the right of Central Fire Station, which is a stand-alone spigot that does not feed through the Bridgton Water District. Also, there is a faucet at the Salmon Point Campground entrance. “Both of these sources are open to the public,” Fleck said. “When filling containers, please make sure you are not parked in an area that might impede traffic flow or emergency vehicle access.” Meanwhile, Rec Director Gary Colello has seen local beaches become a popular spot for those trying to beat the heat. Despite large numbers, Colello said there have been no reports of duck itch. If a report is made, then water is tested to determine if a high bacteria count exists. In other selectmen meeting notes: Bathroom design NOTES, Page 6A
IT’S AN EVENT — For visitors and area residents, a trip to the Bridgton Farmers’ Market has been described as “an event” by organizers. The success of the popular market has created “congestion” in the Depot Street municipal parking lot, and selectmen wondered Tuesday night if another location might be more practical. (Bradt Photo) the congestion that currently exists. Breanna Mae ThomasGoogins of Patch Farm in Denmark, assistant manager of the Bridgton Farmers’ Market, welcomed the chance to return to the green spaces along Depot Street — which were designed during the streetscape project with the Farmers’ Market in mind, she pointed out. To create safe zones in the market area, five parking spaces are blocked off, Thomas-Goggins pointed out. Additional space is lost due to the Lake Region
Explorer bus. But, there is a problem there. Initially, the town wanted the grass there given a year to mature, thus keeping people off it. Bridgton’s Economic and Community Development Director Anne Krieg said the grass did not respond well, and soil samples have been taken to determine what course of action should be taken. Selectmen felt the “congestion” problem could be solved by either having the Market move to the backside of the Community Center (set up much like vendors
participating in the Village Folk Festival), or move to the Municipal Complex parking lot. Thomas-Googins said vendors would not be able to “stake down” tents in the Municipal Complex parking lot, creating a real safety hazard. Meanwhile, Farmers’ Market supporters would hate to give up a location customers are accustomed to and look forward to visiting — suggesting the Saturday trip to market is “an event” for many. One immediate solution is for vendors (which number
in the 17 range) to park farm trucks off-site, possibly near Bridgton Memorial School. Many will be encouraged to do this, while some “older vendors” will still need to keep their vehicles nearby. Thomas-Goggins will work with Bridgton’s Public Works Director Jim Kidder in seeking out other ways to reduce congestion in the parking lot. The Farmers’ Market continues to November. “We can work through this,” Bridgton Town Manager Robert Peabody said.
Camp benefits from military aid By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer RAYMOND – Capt. Kevin Wolff described what he referred to as “FOB Hinds” or fresh off the boat at Camp William Hinds. The group of military personnel arrived in April, set up the tents and the generator farm — just like they would in the field. Then, it snowed. What an experience, he said. Thank goodness, the hot meals were prepared by chefs in training instead of resorting to packaged rations. The priority job was turning the camp’s Health Lodge into a four-season building so that it could be used during the winter. That project required GOV. PAUL LEPAGE TAKES A TOUR of Camp William putting in a heat source and Hinds in Raymond on Tuesday during distinguished visi- included replacing the floors tors’ day. (De Busk Photo) and the lighting. The Health
Lodge renovations were completed by June 10, Wolff said. Currently, a new dining facility is under construction. As Wolff works in his leadership role of Officer in Charge (OIC), he has received real-life experience in civil engineering. He is one of many individuals in the U.S. military to take part in the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program. This year, he is part of the duration staff, the group that stays from April through late August. Meanwhile, a total of 460 people from all branches of the military will arrive at Camp Hinds for two-week rotations. And, they will put valuable work experience under their belts. On Tuesday, Wolff shared his story during distinguished visitors’ day at Camp William
Opioid crisis:
Change of mind This article — Part 1 — is brought to you by the Lakes Region Substance Abuse Coalition. By Dr. Peter Leighton Special to The News I first started prescribing Suboxone at Bridgton Internal Medicine in the fall of 2013, just five months after moving to Bridgton from the Lewiston area, where I was a hospitalist at Central Maine Medical Center for over six years. One of my first patients was a man in his mid-twenties who I’ll refer to as Jim to maintain his anonymity. Little did I know this gaunt man who only weighed 140 pounds soaking wet would change my outlook on medication-assisted treatment, forever. When I entered the exam room, I found him seated next to his mother, who came to support him. Looking exhausted with sunken eyes and an unshaven face, he told me his story. He was involved in a horrific car accident in his early 20s with his closest friends with whom he was partying with. They were intoxicated when their car suddenly lost control and went careening off the embankment at over 60 miles an hour, smashing and tumbling through the woods. He described holding his bloodied best friend’s head in his arms in that crumpled vehicle as his friend looked into his eyes and took his last breath. The drug use quickly escalated after that horrific event. Old friends separated, isolation set in and life happened.
FACT: Of the 21.5 million Americans 12 or older that had a substance use disorder in 2014, 1.9 million had a substance use disorder involving prescription pain relievers and 586,000 had a substance use disorder involving heroin — American Society of Addiction Medicine. He now had a fiancé and a 3-year-old son, whom he absolutely adored, naming him after his best friend, who had died in his arms. His fiancé had kicked him out of their home exasperated and heartbroken by his drug use. As I was typing his history into his chart, his mom jumped in to help flush out the history. When I looked up a few minutes later as his mother was talking, everything went silent in my mind as I watched this man — head buried in his hands — looking down at what appeared to be two dark circles on each of his thighs. I then realized there were tears dropping onto his thighs and he could no longer talk. In my 40 years on this earth and six years as a practicing physician, I had never seen a broken man, but on that day, I witnessed a depth of despair so deep it was like looking OPIOID, Page 7A
A FAIR TRADE — A tour group walks across the foot bridge, which was rebuilt through the military’s Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program at Camp William Hinds. The military personnel receive training and the camp operated by the Boy Scouts of America gets needed infrastructure. (De Busk Photo) Hinds, the 300-acre camp for Probably the most well-known the Boy Scouts of America visitor was Gov. Paul LePage, (BSA) Pine Tree Council. CAMP, Page 7A
Drone uses: Almost limitless
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — “Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird…It’s a plane…It’s Superman!” Wait a second. It is a drone. While it might seem like a fun hobby, the small drone with videorecording capabilities has practical uses for the Naples Fire and Rescue Department. The drone was purchased for the Town of Naples in April, according to Naples Town Manager Ephrem
Paraschak. “The uses of the drone are almost limitless,” he said. “It could be used for a house fire, for a missing person on the water, for a missing person in the woods.” The drone’s video camera can send live-time recording to a computer — allowing rescue personnel to ascertain a situation in less time. “Not to mention you can take great aerial shots of Naples,” Paraschak said. DRONE, Page 6A
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