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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 146, No. 37
28 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
September 10, 2015
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 5D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Options considered on rundown buildings By Emily Butterfield Contributing Writer FRYEBURG — Complaints concerning with the safety and aesthetics of two building in town have prompted both the selectmen and Code Enforcement Officer Katie Haley to discuss what options are accessible to deal with the issue and what they can do in the future. At the August 20 meeting, the board discussed the house located on Portland road and the numerous attempts to have the homeowner deal with not only the looks of the building, but the safety concerns about it POSTCARD PERFECT — This circa 1950s postcard of the Moose Pond Causeway as well. Though the property is not occupied, shows off the granite stones in all their picturesque glory. there were reports of children playing inside the building, which is partially falling down on the back side. “If there’s a kid in there and that building collapses, that’s borderline willful negligence,” said selectmen Jeffrey Cox. In December of 2014, the owner agreed to clean up the property, but failed to do so despite Code Officer Haley’s numerous attempts to contact them. Haley said that if the town desired, because of the condition of the house, they could remove it themselves. Although Haley had never been through the process herself, she described it as “complex.” use a brown powder coated By Gail Geraghty Selectmen decided that they required a guardrail, similar to what’s Staff Writer response from the owner by the September Bridgton Selectmen on used in Acadia National Park Tuesday agreed to back a and on other scenic highways. But, on Tuesday, Dr. Bruce last-ditch effort on grounds of historic preservation to save Clary of Knights Hill Road the granite blocks lining the outlined research he’s done Moose Pond Causeway on that’s convinced him the historical status of the Causeway Route 302. The board said it hadn’t can be proven, and as yet has previously considered using not been adequately reviewed By Wayne E. Rivet such an argument to persuade by state and federal agencies Staff Writer the Maine Department of under the National Historic During his time as director of Adult and Transportation not to replace Preservation Act of 1966. Community Education, Steve McFarland “Everybody views those the stones with a guardrail as worked closely with individuals trying part of a highway project set blocks as integral to what DR. BRUCE CLARY to overcome various obstacles to move to begin this year. They spoke that Causeway means to urged Bridgton Selectmen toward a better life. of the granite blocks’ scenic Bridgton,” said Clary. “It is Tuesday to fight removal Hearing such plights, McFarland value and demonstrated safety part of the vista. If so many of the granite blocks on the remembered a lecture he heard at a conferrecord when they wrote to people are upset about it, Moose Pond Causeway on ence by a woman who escaped poverty and MDOT officials earlier this could not the reason be his- grounds of historic preser- today travels the country to share her story year to try to get them to toric?” vation. (Geraghty Photo) of hardship, determination and success. Clary presented the board change their minds. Working with Carmen Lone, execuThe state declined to make with a copied passage from highway reconstruction con- tive director of the Bridgton Community an exception on its standard the History of Bridgton tract to the Rossi Construction Center, McFarland is teaming up with local policy to use guardrails where (Shorey, ed., 1968) that details Company: “On July 9, 1953, the new businesses and nonprofit organizations needed when upgrading its the building of the Causeway to bring Dr. Donna Beegle to Bridgton highways. They did agree to after the state awarded the STONES, Page 8A for a special conference, “Pathways to
Save the stones
Last ditch effort to save barriers on historic grounds
3rd meeting, and the owner agreed to remove the back section of the house which is caving in, and board up the rest of the building so no one could gain entry. “Personally, I’d like to see the whole thing gone, myself,” said Richard Eastman. “But at least we’re moving in the right direction.” The board agreed that the property must be fixed as specified by October 4, 2015. The next property that was brought into question was one that is located on Maine Street. Concerns were raised about the looks of that building as well. However, because there is nothing in the town ordinance concerning the aesthetics of a property, Haley is unable to cite the owner for anything. In order to deal with the property, Haley must first go to the selectmen to get their approval for any action that may need to be taken. The board and code officer have showed interest in wanting to adopt some form of an ordinance that would allow them to bypass having to ask the selectmen for approval every time a person complains about a property. “If someone was in the building, there might be issues with plumbing and septic,” said Haley, “but where it’s unoccupied there’s not a whole lot to go on.” Haley also says that Fryeburg does have a nuisance RUNDOWN, Page 8A
National speaker to lead local poverty conference
Prosperity,” on Friday, Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Magic Lantern Theatre. Cost is $35. Register by calling 647-3116 or online at windham.maineadulted.org Several area businesses will sponsor the conference: Hancock Lumber, Magic Lantern, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Bridgton Community Center, as well as Maine Adult Education, The Opportunity Alliance and The Bingham Program. Businesses interested in sponsorship should call 647-3116 for more information. When communities come together to harness the value of everyone, lives are changed forever. McFarland seess the Pathways to Prosperity conference as a bold long-term PATHWAYS, Page 7A
Not a cloud in the sky; no parking spots left By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — So many people had packed up for a day on the shores of Sebago Lake. So many others had stacked up life jackets and hauled their boats there. In fact, so many people showed up that the local state park had to temporarily shut its gates to traffic. During the afternoon of Labor Day, the day use area of Sebago Lake State Park (SLSP) was closed to vehicles because parking had reached capacity. It was the fifth time this summer that this has happened, according to SLSP Park Manager Matt McGuire. The other times that parking spaces had been scarce this summer occurred on the weekend, he said. In fact, all of the parking closures for the day use area happened on Sundays: July 5 and another three Sundays in August, he said. On the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, it was a close call as parking almost reached capacity. But, the flux of people leaving and arriving balanced out. So, park officials were able to keep the gates open. “We reached capacity today. So, we had to close day use to parking for about an hour and a half,” McGuire said on Monday. While it was most likely disheartening for beachgoers who were forced to wait for available parking or ‘hoof it’ into the park, the high volume helped to bolster the season- HENRY JOHNSON, 9, of Cape Elizabeth, and his cousin, Julianne Coyne, 12, of South Portland, balance on the end summer numbers of this ever-popular destination spot. Slacker Wave Walker, a mobile tightrope system made from nylon webbing. The cousins were among the visitors who spent a portion of Labor Day at the Sebago Lake State Park day use area. (De Busk Photo) SUMMER, Page 8A
BikeMaine 2015 rolls into town this Monday By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Over 350 cyclists from 35 states will camp out on the grounds of the Bridgton Community Center Monday afternoon and overnight, Sept. 14, and Bridgton is ready to give them a warm welcome. The cyclists should start to arrive around 1:30 p.m. after covering around 50 miles on the third day of their 350-mile trek through Southern and Western Maine. Residents should start to see
them rolling up Route 117 from Sebago and Denmark, past Woods Pond to South High Street, and down Main Hill to Depot Street. When they leave on Tuesday, they’ll head out on Main Street and turn up Highland Road to Chadbourne Hill Road, passing through Waterford, where the North Waterford Congregational Church has planned a luncheon and rest stop. There’ll be hundreds of volunteers to help the riders
get comfortably settled — Bridgton Academy students will help them unload trucks, and the Lake Region High School’s Interact Club will also help out. The grounds of the Community Center will be transformed into a temporary tent city, as individual tents are set up for the bikers and larger tents for services such as bathrooms and first aid that will be needed. Among organizations that have promised food and sup-
port are the Bridgton Lions Club, Rotary Club, the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce and The Bridgton Economic Development Corporation. Downtown businesses are also planning to put out the welcome mat; The Depot Street Tap House is promising a lineup of entertainment. The cyclists will be invited to step over the Bob Dunning Bridge and into the cool woods of Pondicherry Park for a hike, which will likely
come as a welcome respite after hours in the saddle. Nearly every department of Bridgton town government has been actively involved,
with Planning Director Anne Krieg leading the charge. There’ll be an information booth on the Center grounds BIKEMAINE, Page 3A
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