Summer Scene
Fun in the Sun
Full line-up including Dam Jam, Art in Bloom, Bluegrass Festival at Narramissic
Inside News Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 7D
There was fun to be had in Casco over the weekend, be it the road race or parade
Page 1B
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 4D Country Living . . . 5B-7B
Page 1C & 8B
Directory . . . . . . . . . . 3D Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 6D Opinions 1D-3D, 5D-6D, 8D Police/Court . . . . . 4A-5A Sports . . . . . . . . . 1C-7C Student News . . . . . . 8C Games . . . . . . . . . . . . 5C
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 145, No. 31
32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
July 31, 2014
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 5D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Board rules 3 Fowler Street disorderly house By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer The apartment building at 3 Fowler Street is a disorderly house, Bridgton Selectmen ruled July 23, in the first-ever hearing under its Disorderly Housing Ordinance. The board issued the ruling after an hour-long hearing into whether Anthony and Betty Numberg failed to deal with disruptive behavior at 3 Fowler Street, one of several rental properties they own in town. Police Chief Kevin Schofield testified that he “strongly believed” the ordinance was violated by virtue of six incidents requiring police response over 12 days, when only three incidents over 60 days are required to trigger a violation. The board’s findings of fact ruled that five of the
six incidents supported a finding of disorderly house under the definition in the ordinance. At the board’s request, Town Attorney Richard Spencer is drafting a consent agreement with the Numbergs, who will then meet with the board to discuss the terms. The terms may include a fine. “We’re talking intoxication, arguing, swearing, at least verbal fighting, agitated behavior, at all hours of the day ranging from 8 a.m. to roughly midnight,” Schofield said at the quasi-judicial hearing, attended by around 30 people. No one, not even the Numbergs, disputed the basic facts of the incidents covering the period of June 11–23, one of which resulted in an arrest. But Betty Numberg argued that the ordinance hadn’t been violated because the tenant
involved in all six cases had been served a notice of eviction on June 30. “I don’t understand how I could even be convicted of a disorderly if I’m taking care of the situation in the best way I can,” she said. Numberg provided a copy of language indicating that the only way for landlords to show compliance with the ordinance is to evict the tenant or tenants involved, which she has done. Tony Numberg expanded on that argument. “I’ve never been deputized, I’m not a police officer,” he said. Eviction is his only option, which he said he takes whenever he finds evidence of drugs or “crazy” behavior. The one time he became more forceful in trying to deal with a problem tenant, he said, “It landed me a night in jail.” He implied that his tenants
Bridgton Police Officer Mac McCormick testified to the three times he responded in one day to 3 Fowler Street to a report of a disturbance. aren’t the only people who are disruptive. “We should have another hearing on what’s going on in that neighborhood.” Selectman Chairman Bernie King acknowledged that this was the first case
‘Long’ dock ruled okay
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer The Bridgton Board of Appeals has denied an appeal by shorefront neighbors that a 180-foot-long dock — the longest on Moose Pond — is denying them a sense of privacy. The board ruled July 24 that Kevin and Joan Murrin’s dock is no longer, wider or higher than necessary for a customary dock, considering that the Murrin’s 120 feet of frontage at 99 Cedar Drive is located on a boggy narrow cove. The previous 100foot length of the dock only gave them a 20-foot water depth, which is inadequate for swimming and boating, Extending the dock by 80 feet gave the Murrins a 32foot water depth, which Code Enforcement Officer Robbie Baker said “is required in order to carry on the boating and swimming activities customarily associated with the reasonable use of a waterfront dock.” Peter and Bonnie Motel own abutting property to the south of the Murrins, and they filed the appeal based on their belief that the dock reduced DOCK, Page A
Teresa Theriault, who lives in apartment 3 at 3 Fowler Street, was tearful in her testimony at the July 23 hearing.
Anthony and Betty Numberg, owners of the apartment building at 3 Fowler Street, at the center of the debate.
they’d heard since the ordinance was adopted in 2006. “We are plowing new ground” in attempting to rule on whether a violation has occurred, King said. Schofield was joined by Officer Mac McCormick in
providing details of the six police calls — four of which occurred on the same day, on June 23. The first involved a man and woman arguing loudly and swearing at around 8 a.m., June 11, outside the HOUSE, Page A
Renys evacuated after bomb threat Bridgton Police arrested a 36-year-old Bridgton man Tuesday for allegedly calling in a bomb threat to Renys department store that forced an immediate evacuation of the building. Kenneth Meisner, 36, of Main Street, Bridgton, has been charged with a felony Class C terrorizing in relation to the bomb threat, and was transported to the Cumberland County Jail. Meisner’s arrest came after a follow-up investigation on the threat by Officer Phil Jones. A Renys employee received a phone call at about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday from a male who indicated that there was an explosive device within the store, said Bridgton Police Chief Kevin Schofield. The store manager immediately contacted Bridgton Police, evacuated and locked the store. Members of the Bridgton Police Department, Fire Department and the Cumberland County sheriff’s Dept. set up a perimeter around the store to secure the area. A K-9 unit from the Maine State Police searched the store, and no explosive device was located. AMY PARKER’S CHILDREN help her volunteer at the summertime free lunch program at the Sand Hill site in Naples. (From left) Christopher, 9, Cody, 5, Avrey, 4, and Caleb, 7, get playful with foam puzzle pieces that are part of the activity box at this free meal location. (De Busk Photo)
Free meals saves budget
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — It is a comfort to parents to know their children are getting a healthy meal. Meanwhile, once children have eaten their fill, they are off and running — literally. With four children in her household, Amy Parker understands how financially taxing it can be to ensure they get at least three healthy meals a day. That concern is compounded when school is
not in session because her children rely on free breakfasts and lunches during the school year. Parker and her offspring have been coming to the free meal site at Sand Road in Naples for four years; and, they’ve been volunteering there for three years. “We had time. I don’t mind doing this. It gives back to the community. It teaches values to my kids,” she said. For Parker, the federallyfunded free lunch program
that happens each summer is a blessing. For her children, it’s a chance to get out of the house. “I like coming here. My house is boring,” nine-yearold Christopher Parker said. “I like to help pack the food into the cooler” from the refrigerator at the Naples United Methodist Church, which operates a food pantry in the basement. “Sometimes, I sneak and MEALS, Page A
Seth uses winter days to undam songwriting By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — This winter Seth Gallant experienced a musical epiphany. More accurately, he spent his wintery weekends hibernating between music sheets with his guitar. After a few years of not playing his instrument in public or belonging to a band, Gallant felt inspired by the songs of some New England musicians with whom he used to perform. “When I lived in Vermont, it was a big part of what I did there. I always had a day job. But, music was a big part of my life: Playing in bands and in bars and stuff,” Gallant said. “It was also a bit of an extra income,” he said. Prior to Vermont, Gallant went to college in Montana where his guitar skills improved; and his non-academic life revolved around friends who liked to play music. “When we moved to Maine, I was kind
of burned out so I wasn’t jumping to get things going again,” he said. “This winter, I started to hear friends’ music on the Internet. It was inspiring,” he said. “Then, a friend sent a CD he had recorded. After I listened to it, I said, ‘Oh my, gosh, this is great. I should be doing this,’” he said. As things worked out, both the season and his energy level were conducive to some successful songwriting. After all, a lot of his physical energy was spent doing his day job. “Doing carpentry can be demanding, and being outside all the time. So, Saturday morning would come around, and I would say to myself, ‘I don’t want to go outside today,’ ” Gallant said. “I think part of it was me just wanting to have an outlet outside of working every day,” he said. Compared to the earlier songs he had SONGWRITING, Page A
SETH GALLANT PLAYS his guitar at home. This Saturday his band, Oble Varnum, will be among the many musicians performing at the Third Annual Dam Jam in Denmark.
Cat hoarding bill headed to court By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — A cat hoarding case that cost the town more than $25,000 is now in the hands of the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office. “The District Attorney is looking at a number of ways to pursue the case, to try to get repayment to the town for rescuing the cats,” Casco Town Manager Dave Morton said. Morton updated the Casco Board of Selectmen on the cat hoarding issue during Tuesday night’s meeting. Morton provided a little history of the case, which occurred in the summer of 2012 following a welfare check at a residence off Burgess Road. “When we discovered that the house had 70 some cats in it and that it was unsafe to go in without protective clothing and a breathing apparatus,” town officials stepped into the picture, Morton said. “Georgette Sanders, at the time, was concerned about the cats. She indicated if the town were to rescue and were to care for them,” she would foot the bill, he said. “The town made an extraordinary effort to rescue and rehabilitate the cats,” Morton said. Consequently, those costs approached between $25,000
We have tried and tried to get her (Georgette Sanders) to understand that the last thing we wanted to happen was a criminal action against her. But, she walked herself to this point.
— Grant Plummer, Casco Board of Selectmen Chairman
and $30,000, he said. “Since that time, the owner of the property has ignored the efforts of the town to collect the money she offered,” he said. Sanders, who was formerly known as Georgette Burgess, has disregarded all requests to help pay the outstanding debt. The only way that the Town of Casco can successfully attempt to receive reimbursement for the rescue of multiple felines is to levy criminal actions against the property owner, Morton said. Other avenues are simply dead-ends or would cost the town additional money. “There is no ability to put BILL, Page A
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