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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 145, No. 36
32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
September 4, 2014
(USPS 065-020)
Games . . . . . . . . . . . . 5C
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
AT&T wins cell tower battle By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Despite five months’ worth of vigorous opposition by Hio Ridge Road residents, the Bridgton Planning Board ruled Tuesday in favor of a request by AT&T and American Towers to build a 130-foot cell phone tower at 214 Hio Ridge Road. The ruling came nearly three hours after key testimony was heard by radio frequency engineer Ivan Pagacik, an independent consultant hired by the town to verify that AT&T had demonstrated the need for the new tower to meet its coverage needs. AT&T has antennas on Shawnee Peak and in other Bridgton locations, but there still exists “significant gaps in coverage” on Route 302 north and adjoining roads, Pagacik
said. Pagacik told the board he saw no flaw in AT&T’s coverage analysis, and noted that the new tower will provide 4G coverage for increased data speeds of up to 1,900 megahertz — more than twice the 800-megahertz range of cell towers built 25 years ago. The higher range signals are more apt to suffer signal loss from trees and foliage than the lower range, he said. “This is the next layer of buildout that’s coming” as cell phone providers compete to meet demand of smart phone users, Pagacik said. “They started in Boston, and are moving their way up.” The drawback to this demand for higher frequencies, he said, is that cell phone companies need more tow-
ers. “The faster you want to push data, the more sites you need.” Pagacik agreed with testimony at an earlier meeting by AT&T RF Engineer Ernesto Chua, who said a nearby existing cell tower on Sam Ingalls Road was not suitable because it was not high enough for the signal to reach the target area on Route 302. The tower would have to be 295 feet high to provide a suitable signal, Pagacik said. Sliver of a sliver? Pagacik’s testimony was followed by one last attempt by Hio Ridge Road resident Paul Veit to prove his contention that the Sam Ingalls Road tower was suitable for colocation by AT&T. Veit came armed with a PowerPoint presentation that was allowed into
the record by Planning Board Chairman Steve Collins, over the objection of attorney Barry Hobbins, representing AT&T and American Towers. Veit said AT&T originally said coverage needed to be improved westerly on Route 302, but that Pagacik’s review did not take that into account. “The coverage we asked for was a comparison of the Sam Ingalls site with the Hio Ridge site westerly,” Veit said. If that had been done, he said, the analysis would have shown where the signal from the Hio Ridge Road site would be obstructed by Pleasant Mountain, and the only area that the signal from Hio Ridge Road would be better was “a sliver of a sliver” on Route 302 easterly of Hio AT&T, Page A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Maksim and Nataliya Yarchak were delighted to find an open campsite at the campground. After all, they did not have reservations and it was Labor Day weekend. Luckily, one of the walk-in sites near the amphitheater was available.
As soon as they had finished setting up their tent, the couple embraced momentarily. Then, in the ultimate tradition of camping, they started a fire and shared S’mores. Later, that evening, they perched on a lakeside rock and admired the sunset. Maksim and Nataliya was celebrating their second-year
wedding anniversary, and thoroughly enjoying one of many stays at Sebago Lake State Campground. The couple is originally from Belarus, a country in Eastern Europe located between Poland and Russia with Ukraine to the south. They were married in Boston, where they live.
Maksim discovered the state park in 2009 after he saw Big Sebago Lake on a map of Maine, he said. “It is beautiful lake. It is enjoyable place, quiet. Lake is warm, good at all times,” he said. They said they camped in late September or early October last year, and it seemed like there were only four people in the entire campground. “It was amazingly quiet. The quietness — it holds the land for ourselves,” he said. In 2013, the couple made seven trips to Sebago Lake State Campground. The Friday before Labor Day was their third time staying at the campground this summer. According to Park Ranger Matt MacGuire, 3,500 people stayed at the campground and 4,900 people spent time at the day use area during this Labor Day weekend. “This past weekend, camping was steady. Everyone with reservations showed up,” MacGuire said. The sunny weather on Labor Day — especially after rain had been predicted STATE PARK, Page A
Park: ‘Everyone...showed up’
FUN DAY OUT ON SEBAGO LAKE — In one section of the Sebago Lake State Park Campground, at Witches’ Cove swimming area, people enjoy water sports like kayaking and using a paddle boards. About 3,500 people camped at the park over Labor Day weekend, while 4,900 people took advantage of the day use area during the three-day holiday. (De Busk Photo)
7 years in making, ‘Bus’ ready to roll By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer HARRISON — Alan Bean has always been bothered by people who want to take matters of faith and make it “as dry as dirt, stodgy and unappealing.” “There is no reason that you can’t have a wonderful heart and still present entertainment,” the composer turned playwright said as he sat inside his recording studio — Baked Beans — in Harrison. Next week, a seven-year project will unfold on the Merrill Auditorium stage in Portland as Bean and a cast of 48 present, “The Bus Stop Atheist.” The two-act musical is the story of a 20-year-old college student named “Pilgrim,” who explains life through science and math. “Pilgrim is completely divorced from all things spiritual,” Bean said. One day, he goes to the bus stop to go to college when he starts to run into some very unusual characters. “I don’t want to give too much away, but there are some crazy people, some very interesting people, some brilliant people and some people who may not be people at all — angelic people disguised as humans,” Bean said. “This kid gets his life turned inside and out.” The tale that follows is told through every musical style imaginable — from Hip Hop to Rock to Country to Blues EAGERLY AWAITING OPENING NIGHT is Alan Bean — carrying the audience along with the lead character through of Harrison, creator of ‘The Bus Stop Atheist,’ shown BUS STOP, Page A here in his Baked Beans Studio. (Rivet Photo)
GREG LARSON at the Slab Caves on Mount Mexico. (Photo by Allen Crabtree)
Fallen hiker remembered
“When I die, I want to be up on a mountain,” — Greg Larson By Allen Crabtree Guest Writer Instead of my usual column about hiking a mountain for this long-running “Freedom of the Hills” series in the Bridgton News, I wanted to give a short tribute to our fellow hiker and friend, Greg Larson. Greg died while hiking with the Denmark Mountain Hikers high on the slopes of Mount Jefferson last Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. Mount Jefferson, at 5,710 feet, is the third highest peak in the northeast, and we were climbing the Caps Ridge Trail, a tough steep trail with large rock outcrops. Much of the trail is above timberline. In return for the scrambling required to climb this trail, the hiker is rewarded with a wide panorama of views that literally takes your breath away, stretching to the horizon. When 13 Denmark Mountain Hikers tackled the Caps Ridge Trail that day, the weather was near perfect. Temperatures were mild for this late summer day; the skies were blue; and there was a gentle breeze. The trail was dry and even the toughest rocky outcrop scrambles were a breeze! Nowhere on the horizon were any hints of rain or thunderclouds. It truly was a wondrous gift to be hiking in the mountains on such a day. Greg had been hiking with the Denmark Mountain Hikers since March 2014. I can’t remember now how he came to join us, but I understand it was after reading one of my hiking columns in the Bridgton News. In any event, Greg soon became a “regular” and also one of our strongest hikers, joining us when his schedule allowed. When he couldn’t hike with the group, sometimes he would later tackle the peak he missed with another Denmark Mountain Hiker. Greg loved the mountains and had hiked many of the peaks in the Whites. He was a joy to hike with. He was always cheerful, with a positive word for everyone. If anyone needed a little assistance on the trail, Greg was always there to help. Hiking together on the trail, or sitting around the campfire at an overnight camp, Greg would talk about his projects, his family and their history. He was very proud of his Norwegian heritage and devoted to his wife, Chris. I don’t remember him ever having a negative word to say about anyone, nor being rude or cross with anyone. He loved the mountains and I was Greg often met us at the always cheered when he let trailhead — here at our me know that he would be Old Speck hike. joining us on one of our (Photo by Allen Crabtree) hikes — he was a positive TRIBUTE, Page A
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