BN31080411

Page 1

Return of Woodies The 18th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Show and Classic Car Show unfolds this Saturday in Naples Page 12B

Another place to shop?

Inside News

A Naples businessman presented a project to the planning board that includes a supermarket, stores

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 5D

Page 4A

Classifieds . . . . . . 6D-7D Country Living . . . 6B-9B Directory . . . . . . . . . 10D Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 8A Opinions . . . . 1D-4D, 7D Police/Court . . . . . 6A-7A Sports . . . . . . . . . 1C-8C Summer Scene 1B-5B, 9B Towns . . . . . . . 11D-12D Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 7D

www.bridgton.com Vol. 142, No. 31

Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. 40 PAGES - 4 Sections

Bridgton, Maine

August 4, 2011

(USPS 065-020)

SIXTY CENTS

$75,000 added, but will budget pass?

By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer The SAD 61 School Board cut $75,000 as an attempt to gain voter support at the polls, after seeing two other budgets fail. Some taxpayers, however, feel the axe has cut too deep.

With about 130 voters in attendance Tuesday night at Lake Region High School, taxpayers restored funding for a Grade 1 teacher at Stevens Brook Elementary School and $35,000 to fund community use of school facilities.

Thus, the budget headed for the district validation vote next Tuesday represents the same package that was rejected by 16 votes last month. “We’re going to be right back here again,” Sebago Director Richard Merritt pre-

dicted following the 2 ½ hour session. “In my opinion, we needed to cut more to get this thing done.” Fellow Sebago Director Greg Smith echoed that thought. “The cuts we made did not affect student instruction, and we tried to

get to a lower budget number that hopefully voters would pass so we can get back to business of educating our children,” he said. “Now, we’re right back to the same number as before, which was voted down.” Former SAD 61 director Ken Brown shared that thought when he opened the meeting by seeking a $55,000 reduction by eliminating a Fine Arts teacher at Lake Region High School. Brown pointed out that students need just one Fine Arts credit to graduate, and that requirement could be achieved without a dance instructor. LRHS Principal Ted Finn had recommended that cut, but the school board saved the position, feeling the high school had already taken a deep reduction (8.5 positions). School Board member Janice Barter asked Brown to amend the amount to $37,000 to meet terms of the teachers’ contract in reference to a position being eliminated less than 60 days to

Validation Vote

Will the SAD 61 budget pass taxpayer muster this Tuesday? Voters return to the polls on Tuesday, Aug. 9 for the school budget validation vote. Polls will be open in the four district towns — Bridgton Town Hall, Casco Community Center, Naples Town Hall and Sebago Town Hall — from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. the start of a new school year. Brown’s motivation to make the cut was learning that in SAD 61, there have been 1,700 tax liens — which he found as “staggering.” He also pointed out that seniors will not realize any increase in Social Security benefits, thus will be hard pressed to pay a higher school tax. “These are some of the things SAD 61, Page A

Amato’s to join Main St. line-up

‘CASCOPILLAR’ INVADES THE VILLAGE — The Schott Family created this clever insect and won the Grand Trophy at Saturday’s Casco Days Grand Parade. Once again, there were many colorful and creative entries in the parade, which entertained hundreds who lined the roadway. More photos and award winners on Page 11D. (Rivet Photo)

Dispatch: End of an era nears

By Lisa Williams Ackley Staff Writer The end of an era in the town of Bridgton is fast approaching, as the local dispatch center gets ready to turn over its duties to the Cumberland County Regional Communications Center in Windham. Originally targeted for Aug. 15, the change to the CCRCC

has been pushed back a week, and will now take place Aug. 22, Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz announced Monday afternoon. Voters approved contracting with the Cumberland County Regional Communications Center, in a referendum vote at the June annual town meeting, by a margin of just 20 votes

— with 342 in favor and 322 opposed. The Bridgton Board of Selectmen supported the changeover to the CCRCC, saying taxpayers would save $259,000 the first three years, with projected annual savings of about $125,000, after Year 3. The selectmen also said the move to the CCRCC would

NAPLES — “Remarkable progress” has been made in controlling the milfoil infestation on the Songo River this summer, but the Lakes Environmental Association (LEA) is still asking boaters to avoid Songo Lock during the next critical month. The milfoil infestation on the lower Songo River has not been as massive as during the

long hot summer of 2010, said Peter Lowell, LEA executive director. LEA’s milfoil crew has also been working hard to clear a “safety zone” below Songo Lock, clearing out the basin just outside the lock and then down the river for about 800 feet. But, milfoil growth is now reaching its peak and courtesy boat inspectors at Songo Lock are finding an increasing num-

ber of milfoil plants. “It’s essential to keep traffic through the Lock to a minimum until after Labor Day,” said Lowell, LEA. The LEA milfoil crew has been working since late May on the milfoil infestation in Brandy Pond and the Songo River, the seventh year of plant control work there. All commercial and private marinas on Brandy Pond have infestations, which LEA has been controlling. In addition to those six sites, there are about six other locations where plants have been harvested. “We are asking boaters and property owners on Brandy Pond and Long Lake to look carefully for milfoil plants,” Lowell said. “One alert homeowner found a new patch of milfoil just this week in the southern end of Brandy Pond.” Since LEA’s crew has found only scattered plants in repeated surveys of Brandy Pond and the upper river, it has been able to concentrate resources on the boat-waiting zone just below the Songo Lock and on the stretch of river downstream. Maine’s federal funding for milfoil control was lost to cutbacks just as the season was

Critical month, LEA asks boaters to avoid ‘Lock’

save the town in capital equipment upgrades and replacements, in the coming years. Currently, Bridgton Dispatch has three full-time dispatchers — Dan Managan, Dave Sanborn and Michelle Bragdon — and three parttime dispatchers, Bette-Jean Espeaignette, Myrna KomichWhite and Laurie Hakala Horne. Bridgton Dispatch DISPATCH, Page A

By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer An Amato’s sandwich shop is coming to Bridgton, albeit a scaled-down version. The shop will be located inside the former Red Shield Heating Oil Office of C.N. Brown Company’s Big Apple Store at 93 Main Street, across from The Chalmers Agency Insurance building. “We think this has all the ingredients to be a successful enterprise,” said C.N. Brown Co. General Manager Chuck Wilkins. “It’s not the full-blown menu, but we’ll have all the traditional sandwiches, pizza and calzones, and their sauces and oil.” Pasta dishes, such as spaghetti and rigatoni, will not be served, but front and center will be the signature sandwich that the Portland, Mainebased business is credited with inventing 105 years ago — the “Real Italian” sandwich. The

first Amato’s Sandwich Shop was opened on India Street in Portland by Giovanni Amato, who started out selling the sandwiches to Italian immigrant workers on the docks in 1902, the company’s website states. It wasn’t until Dominic Reali took over the business in 1972 that the business really took off, leading to today’s 12 company stores, a bakery and a growing franchise operation. The project, which did not require planning board review but was reviewed by town department heads, will involve removing a wall between the vacant heating oil office and The Big Apple Store, adding a front counter, and installing all kitchen equipment. Work will be confined to the interior of the store. “We think it’s great for the area,” Wilkins said, adding that the Main Street, Bridgton Big Apple has a “tremendous repuAMATO’S, Page A

MILFOIL CREW members (from left) Christian Oren, Tyler Oren, Adam Perron and Daniel Bishop work on milfoil infestation in the Songo River. Milfoil has also been removed from Brandy Pond. about to begin, leaving LEA about $10,000 short of what’s needed to complete this year’s control work. Jim Allen of Naples Marina and Dan Allen of Causeway Marina are planning a fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 20, to increase milfoil control resources. More details will LOCK, Page A

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


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.