Back to School
Q&A interview
For first-time teachers, jitters and excitement exist as they take on new assignments
Inside News Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 4B
For SAD 61 superintendent, time was right to make a move, ready for challenges
Page 1C
Classifieds . . . . . . 4D-5D Country Living 1B-3B, 5B-8B
Page 2C
Directory . . . . . . . . . . 3D Obituaries . . . . . . 6D-7D Opinions . 1D-3D, 7D-8D Police/Court . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . 4C-8C Student News . . . 1C-3C Games . . . . . . . . . . . . 4C
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 145, No. 35
32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
August 28, 2014
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 4A
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Taking another shot at friendly By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. To be business friendly, that is. After being turned down last year in its bid to become state-certified as a Business Friendly Community, Bridgton will be applying again — but not until next spring, when the Depot Street Streetscape project is completed. At Tuesday’s Bridgton Board of Selectmen meeting, Director of Planning, Economic and Community Development Anne Krieg recommended waiting, so Bridgton can show that it’s putting its Tax Increment Financing revenue to good use. Around $98,000 in TIF funds have been approved to help fund the estimated $378,000 construction on Depot Street, which had been planned for this fall but got put off when the bid came in way over budget.
A major reason Bridgton’s Business Friendly Community application to the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development got turned down last year was because it said nothing about how the revenue from the TIF zone was being utilized. DECD Commissioner George Gervais also cited a lack of programs and/or projects related to customer service/product/capacity, and nothing specific on how the town is partnering with the Bridgton Economic Development Corporation. Krieg said Bridgton’s chances of being named Business Friendly would rise significantly when the town can show how it has used the TIF funding. The Depot Street project marks the first time the TIF fund has been tapped since the district was created about 10 years ago. Cold water got thrown on Krieg’s recommendations, FRIENDLY, Page A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — It’s a common belief that the food that lines the shelves at a food pantry was acquired for free. However, that is far from true. Food pantries, such as CrossWalk Community Outreach, spend money to obtain food and spend hours soliciting food from grocery stores. With a growing need in the community for people to supplement their food budget with visits to a food pantry, fundraisers are a vital part of the puzzle. One such fundraiser is the Empty Bowl event, which is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 15, at the Crooked River Adult Education Center. The meal will be served at 6 p.m.; and each partici-
pant who pays $10 for a meal will receive a bowl as a souvenir. “It’s raising money for Lakes Region pantries,” CrossWalk Director Joanna Moore said. “It costs 16 cents a pound for the food that we buy. We have to purchase food at the price of $20 to $30 a case,” she said. “That $10 equals food for the pantry,” Moore said. The Bridgton-Lakes Region Rotary Club will assist with the fundraiser by AERIAL SHOW — One of the intriguing performances during the second annual Village Folk Festival, held on the grounds of the Bridgton Community Center on Friday and Saturday, was an aerial show by Kat Finck. serving the meal. (Photo courtesy of Mary Jewett) In addition to satisfying their taste buds and stomachs, fundraiser participants will be digesting information about hunger in Maine. Several speakers are scheduled to provide presenBy Gail Geraghty consulting firm the town time in September. Public Those unable to go online tations. Staff Writer hired to do the study of all Safety Strategies Group may contact Peabody at 647BOWL, Page A There’s still time to have aspects of fire department will be conducting random 8786 to have their name put your say on how well you operations. interviews, a survey and on the list of residents wishing think the Bridgton Fire All that’s needed to sub- open discussion before sub- to make their views known Department is doing its job. mit a request is to go to the mitting a final report by the about fire department operaResidents have until town’s website, www.bridg- end of December, said Town tions. All requests will be tomorrow, Aug. 29, to submit tonmaine.org, click on Public Manager Bob Peabody. Voters confidential. Selectmen and a request to be interviewed Announcements, and then at Town Meeting approved Peabody have already given by Public Safety Strategies click to request an interview spending $13,000 to fund the the firm names of key stakeGroup, the Massachusetts that will take place some- study. STUDY, Page A
Drive seeks to fill ‘empty bowl’
SLS: ‘Good fit’ for new leader
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES – Of course, Cheryl Frechette’s heart Cheryl Frechette fluttered and her mood Songo Locks Principal moved toward elation when she heard she had been chosen as the new principal at Songo Locks School. But, she also experienced astonishment. She had applied for the position to be part of the collaborative teaching that has been embraced at the Naples-based elementary school. Frechette believes in grouping children according to their learning needs, rather than restricting them to their grade level. She loved the school’s practice of bringing together groups of kindergarteners, first and second graders – allowing the student body to thrive on creative, interactive learning experiences. She admired the strides and results of the fifth grade teaching team, which approached its curriculum in a way that prepared fifth graders for middle school and included having fun along the way. Plus, Frechette’s resume reveals nine years as the principal and assistant principal for two different schools. However, if she had been a student, she would have SLS PRINCIPAL, Page A
Bridgton begins fire dept. study
Salty proposition
Lawsuit to end with land purchase
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The solution has been a long time in the making. The solution will be the potentially least expensive route for the town. On Friday, the Town of Naples received news from the lawyer for the estate, which is located at 1074 Roosevelt Trail, near the Town Sand Shed. Naples Town Manager Ephrem Paraschak provided the latest update to the Naples Board of Selectmen on Monday. The most recent offer from the town to purchase the land for less than its actual valuation had been accepted by the estate owner, he said. This offer to buy the parcel at the west end of the Causeway is less expensive for the town than drilling a new well and being respon-
sible for the water quality for a decade, he said. That was one of the initial requests of the estate owner. Most of the negotiations were done in executive session. And, it was no secret to many in the community that the lawsuit had been levied against the town. Now, the details of the legal deal are out in the open — especially since the land purchase must be approved by voters at a special town meeting. “The agreement will be for the town to pay $180,000 for the property plus closing costs. Insurance — P&K Sand and Gravel will pay $23,500 and the town’s insurance will pay $8,250 toward the property,” Paraschak said. “A Special Town Meeting will be called and advertised for Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m., to purchase the properSALTY, Page A
THE TOWN OF NAPLES has made a legal agreement with the owners of this estate, property located at 1074 Roosevelt Trail. If approved at a special town meeting, the town will purchase the parcel for $188,000 using money from the Undesignated Fund Balance. (De Busk photo)
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