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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 144, No. 38
32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
September 19, 2013
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 5D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Final meeting on Route 302 plan
LAST SUMMER FOR FILM — Bridgton Twin DriveIn owner John Tevanian holds film for two movies, Planes and Ironman 3, resting on a platter Friday, ready to be wound into a projector for the weekend showing. When he acquired the three-tray platter system last year, it didn’t cost him a dime, because 35-millimeter film is being discontinued by the movie industry in
favor of digital projection systems. Although film prints of first-run movies were in short supply this summer, “We had no problem playing all the first-run movies we wanted to play this summer,” Tevanian said. He’s also confident film will be around next year, but he has seen the handwriting on the wall, and will be converting to digital. (Geraghty Photos)
Drive-In feels push to digital
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer John Tevanian just shakes his head and smiles when people ask him how he was able to get 35 millimeter film prints of first-run movies this summer to keep his Bridgton Twin Drive-In Theater going. Aren’t all the Hollywood movie studios getting rid of film? How could he survive without converting to digital projectors? “We had no problem playing all the first run movies we wanted to play this summer,” said Tevanian, who took over the 57-year-old drive-in in 1996 from his father (also John Tevanian). “Any drive-ins that claim otherwise on their Facebook page are just talking.” With 85 to 90% of the country’s movie theaters having already converted to digital technology, there are, of course, fewer 35-mm film prints being made, he said. But they’re out there, if you know where to look and don’t give in to all the “horror stories” saying the digital revolution is forcing the few remaining drive-ins in the U.S. (around 400, down from 4,000 at the peak) to close. Still, it was at times challenging this summer for Tevanian to snag a film print of a new release, which is why he will be converting to digital projectors next summer. When Riddick “opened wide” and was released to around 6,000 movie screens Sept. 6, he said there were only 85 film prints made in the entire country. And only three theaters in New England had a copy. Tevanian kept calling them, and his persistence paid off; one of the theaters passed the movie along to him after they’d had it for a two-week run. “It is getting to a point that if you want to make sure you can get everything in a timely fashion, you have to have it (a digital projection system).” Tevanian talks to the studios almost daily, and he was confident going into this summer that film would still be around this year, and even next year. Despite the widelyheld notion that the studios plan to discontinue film at the end of the year, he said, there’s been no official announce-
ALL IN — Bridgton Twin Drive-In owner John Tevanian spared no expense in replacing his worn-out concession stand with this new building, completed this summer. At roughly triple the size, with a takeout window and projection room in front, the year round building cost Tevanian around $350,000, and was built to specs to accommodate a digital projector, which requires special glass, more vents, stronger air-conditioning and an Internet connection. With two digital projectors at around $70,000 each, Tevanian’s total investment adds up to around $500,000. With digital film an inevitability, he said, “I decided I was either all in, or all out.” ment from any studio to the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association of a “drop-dead” date for film prints, he said. He notes that most of the major studios hold multiyear prepaid contracts with Kodak, the sole manufacturer of DRIVE-IN, Page C
1776 hero honored By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO – The morning sun streamed in patterns through the trees as a handful of people gathered at the gravesite. The man who was buried under the stone in Mountain View Cemetery lived 200 years ago. He was a farmer who “answered the call to war,” and fought under George Washington in several key battles against the British. Attending the modest ceremony were two brothers, Steve and Francis Lyons, who were born five genera- STEVE LYONS kneels beside the gravestone of his great uncle, Captain Richard tions after Captain Richard Mayberry, who was honored recently as a patriot who fought in the American Revolutionary War. (De Busk Photo) HERO, Page A
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer FRYEBURG — If you travel Route 302 from Bridgton to Fryeburg on a regular basis, you might have an interest in attending a final public meeting to discuss an upcoming $6.4 million road reconstruction project planned for next summer. Bob Carrell of the Maine Department of Transportation will review the preliminary design and take questions and concerns at the meeting, set for Wednesday, Sept. 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center at Fryeburg Academy. The five-mile-long project extends from the Saco River in Fryeburg to Stack Em Inn Road in Bridgton, just before the Moose Pond Causeway. The shoulders will be rebuilt as well as paved, and some actual highway widen-
ing may occur in some places, Carrell has said. There’ll be new drainage installed in some places and some minor adjustment to the center alignment of the highway to improve sight distances. The rehabilitation will make the highway appear wider and safer, since there’s been considerable degrading of the gravel shoulders over the years, causing crowning. Existing pavement will be chewed up and reused as a bed for the new pavement surface, and there’ll be some curbing improvements, according to Carrell. Rights-of-way will need to be acquired in some locations. Following the Sept. 25 meeting, MDOT will finalize the design and may begin roadwork clearing this fall. The bulk of the construction is scheduled for the summer of 2014.
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — During the past few years, the elected town government has embarked on an objective of collecting back taxes. After all, those taxes are the town’s source of income; and while the majority of citizens have been forthcoming with their property tax payments, some have avoided the debt. With less forgiving policies in place, the Town of Casco has collected about $250,000 in back taxes. On Tuesday, residents showed up at a Casco Board of Selectmen meeting to redeem their homes and properties that were in the process of foreclosure because of tax liens. More than 10 people were given the chance to reclaim their houses from the town — if they paid the property
tax in full within 14 calendar days. According to Town Manager Dave Morton “There are a number of people here tonight who would like to redeem their property. Technically, the Town of Casco owns property once it is foreclosed.” He said at this juncture, it was up to the selectmen to decide whether or not they would accept payments at this late date. “Current taxes must be paid — in the form of certified bank check or cash. I suggest that the board put forward reasonable time limits for these payments,” Morton said. The first group of people had legal representation that placed blame on an error made by Mechanic Falls Bank for not transferring the payment on several adjacent properties POLICY, Page A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — All good things must come to an end. After roughly three years of construction on the Causeway, the final few items on a punch list are being meticulously checked off. According to Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) Resident Engineer Craig Hurd, crews should be completing those tasks over the next two weeks. With a minimal list of work to be wrapped up, the construction project — referred to as the Bay of Naples Bridge and Causeway Restoration project — should be completed before the end of September, Hurd said. The majority of that work is weather-dependent, and will continue to be done piecemeal, he said. Hydro-seeding took place on the morning of Sept. 11. That work was done by sub-
contractor R.J. Grondin and Sons. “There were a few areas where the grass did not grow” such as near the entrance to the Bay of Naples Condominiums, the area on the west side of Route 114, and some spots on the east side of the bridge where landscaping was done, Hurd said. On Wednesday, a rainfree day allowed a crew to apply a protective coating to the concrete bridge that has already been in place for two summers. Early next week, around Sept. 23 and 24, a crew will likely pave the driveways to Lost Lobstah and the home owned by Dick Dyke. The construction project will be officially wrapped up once MDOT signs off with the general contractor, Wyman and Simpson, Inc., according to Hurd. That is the case with most BRIDGE, Page A
Casco sticks by back tax policy
Bridge project winding down
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