Bn35 083117

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Still plenty to do Mallett Brothers at Deertrees; Scribner’s Mill last tour; Coburn at Harvest Gold Page 1B

H.S. sports guide

Inside News

How will Fryeburg Academy, Lake Region sports teams fare this fall? Coaches’ takes

Calendar . . . . . . . 2B-3B

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Classifieds . . . . . . 4D-5D Country Living . . . 1B-6B Directory . . . . . . . . . . 3D Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 7A Opinions . . . . . . . 1B-6B Police/Court . . . . . 4A-5A Sports . . . . . . . . . 1C-8C School News . . . . . . . 3A Games . . . . . . . . . . . . 5C

Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 148, No. 35

28 PAGES - 4 Sections

Bridgton, Maine

August 31, 2017

(USPS 065-020)

Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 5D

www.bridgton.com

SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS

Lovell ponders future fate of Mill Pond Dam

LOVELL — A group of interested residents turned out last week to what will undoubtedly be the first of several informational meetings concerning the Mill Pond Dam on Route 93 in Lovell. The dam has seen significant erosion over the years and Lovell selectman commissioned HEB Engineers of

Bridgton and North Conway, N.H. to do an engineering study. HEB Engineers was founded in 1974, and specializes in civil and structural engineering and land surveying. Christopher Fournier, PE, the study’s author presented the findings last Tuesday at the Lovell Town House. At

HEB, Fournier is the firm’s lead structural engineer and is responsible for project management, structural design and analysis of bridges and other structures, site reconnaissance, field investigation, and construction observation. The report can be found on the town website: www. lovellmaine.us The report outlined five

options for consideration: A. Do Nothing. The documented condition of the dam has worsened significantly since the 1998 MBPC report. Concrete deterioration has continued to progress, bulging and undermining of the stone walls indicate instabilities in the overall dam structure, which had not been documented previously.

Dam failure, whether partial or a full breach is inevitable without significant construction efforts. Failure would result in the loss of Mill Pond, which would render the town’s dry hydrant useless, residential dug wells would dry up or collapse, in addition to the economic and social loss of the ponds existence. Failure would also

Hike tough to take

BA hall set for major upgrade By Nicholas LeBel Bridgton Academy Director of Marketing & Communications “January 4, 1909 is a day long to be remembered by the girls of Bridgton Academy, as the day when the dormitory was first opened to them,” — The Stranger, Vol. 26, No. 2 (1909). With those words, the history of the yet-unnamed Cleaves Hall in North Bridgton began. Originally designated as a women’s dormitory, Cleaves Hall was formally named in 1914 after Bridgton alumnus and former Maine Governor, Henry B. Cleaves. The dormitory, which has served 108 consecutive Bridgton Academy classes, is perhaps the Academy’s most famous landmark. Bridgton Academy is pleased to announce that, during the 2017-18 school year, Cleaves Hall will be undergoing an extensive renovation; as such, it will not be available to house Class of 2018 students. The project will completely revamp the existing structure and will be completed in time to welcome students of the incoming Class of 2019. The longtime residence hall is in need of major updating and renovations, and Bridgton Academy made the difficult decision to take the building off-line to ensure its future. Although the building needs significant upgrades, the structure and foundation is sound and will remain where it has stood for over a century. The loss of the nearly 40 beds in Cleaves Hall has necessitated a slightly smaller-than-average Class of 2018, but to compensate for the lack of bed space, the legendary Potter House has been brought back as a dormitory, with Bridgton BA, Page 3A

cause rapid flow as the pond drains into the Kezar River unrestricted and could jeopardize the Route 93 bridge through scouring, for which it was likely not designed. Cleanup efforts would be necessary, urgent, and unplanned and therefore those efforts would not be cost efficient. Permitting of MILL POND, Page 5A

By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Raising taxes is never easy. Raising taxes is not a popular move. That is what local elected officials struggled with as they faced a necessary increase in the mil rate. After all, despite maintaining a lean municipal budget, the town is still responsible for paying the taxes to the school district and to the county. Following a lengthy discussion on Monday, the Naples Board of Selectmen voted to raise the property tax rate from $13.20 to $13.35. “You didn’t get any credit for lowering the rate or keeping it the same last year. But we’ll get flack for raising it,” Chairman Jim Grattelo said. Even after the motion to set the mil rate at $13.35 per $1,000 of valuation, the discussion continued. At one point, the board considered tabling the motion since two of its members were absent. Selectmen Kevin Rogers and Rich Cebra were not present. Prior to Monday night’s meeting, Cebra had notified board that he needed to attend to a family emergency. Grattelo said that voting without a full board might be unfair and could allow the two absent members to tell RATE, Page 2A

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS of medical care and service to the Lake Region, Bridgton Hospital held a special event last Friday, which included fireworks (photo courtesy of Sandra Clark), presentation of a flag and decree from U.S. Senator Susan Collins’ office displayed by BH President David Frum and burial of a time capsule in the new Memory Garden, dedicated in honor of Robert and Eleanor Frank of Harrison.

Fee attached to P.O. contract

Granite artist part of ‘Power of Place’

By Margaret Allen Special to The News SEBAGO — A recent granite sculpture by Sebago artist David Allen is featured in an exhibit at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm, part of their “Summer of Art & Science,” programs that explore nature through the lenses of art and science. Sculptures in granite, steel, marble and bronze by New England artists have been strategically placed along rolling fields and woodland trails of the coastal Wells nature reserve in an exhibit that runs through mid-October. The exhibit, “Power of DAVID ALLEN’S Granite Portal on the horizon at the Place,” is curated by June Wells Reserve, part of the “Power of Place” exhibit, Lacombe and showcases which run through mid-October. the work of almost 30 New

England artists. Sculptures range in style, material and form, but all are created from the region’s materials, including wood and granite, and represent the inspiration of the natural environment on artistic vision. Stone artist David Allen uses antique granite blocks, quarried by hand in the early 1800s and salvaged from an old barn foundation in his hometown of Sebago. One his website, in the “About the Artist” section, Allen describes his work as a “unique blend of technical skill and artistic vision come together to produce artwork that celebrates the beauty of natural medium in both an artistically creative and visually accurate form.

As one observer stated simply, ‘You have the eye of the Artist and the hands of the Builder.’” Allen added, “Working with Natural medium offers endless opportunities for creation. Wherever I look, I see things that can be used to create something more than what they appear to be on the surface. It is only through PORTAL, Page 8A

By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — It was like getting a birthday card in the mail and realizing the cash in the envelope had been nabbed by someone else. Naples elected officials had hoped to sign a contract with the United States Post Office (USPO) without paying the middle man. However, the final contract came with a $7,000 negotiating fee. The company charges this cost for re-upping the leases for the USPO; and the company does this practice around the nation, according to Naples Town Manager Ephrem Paraschak. The fee is placed in a bank account; and the company keeps the interest for a fiveCONTRACT, Page 5A

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


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