Community Harvest Festival in Lovell; Ethel is signing off; Spirituality retreat Section B
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Fryeburg Academy’s defense stuffs Leavitt in 13-0 win, now it’s on to Cape Elizabeth
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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 149, No. 41
28 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
October 11, 2018
(USPS 065-020)
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
‘Stop’ stealing Casco sign
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — Stop, thief! In the case of Casco, stop sign thief would be more accurate. “There has been reoccurring vandalism of the stop signs on Leach Hill Road,” according to Casco Town Manager Dave Morton. The signs have been vandalized or removed at various times, forcing the town the replace them, he said. The Town of Casco has
replacement signs in storage. However, there is still a cost to the homeowners in the community from the theft of roads signs, according to the website smart sign. “Sign theft also negatively affects taxpayers, who must foot the bill for replacing signs — often at more than the initial cost. [more than] $500 to buy and reinstall a simple stop SIGN, Page 4A
A busy, pricey SAD 61 summer By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer For Andy Madura and his staff, the start of school was almost like a vacation — they could finally exhale. It was a tremendously busy summer for Madura and his maintenance and grounds teams (under the direction of Daryl Fernald), along with food service workers Lori Andrews, Joyce Small and Paula Simonds. Through a governmentsponsored summer meals program offered at several locations in the Lake Region, 16,166 meals were dished out, Madura recently reported to the school board.
AT HOME WITH RADIOS — For Casco resident Lew Wetzel, 94, the love of antennas has been both a hobby and a satisfying and interesting career. Wetzel is shown here with his ham radio setup in his home on Pleasant Lake. “We made $22,000 plus (De Busk Photo) and gave three people summer jobs,” Madura said. “We did the right thing (by offering the meals program) for a lot of kids. We had a number of volunteers step up and served meals.” There was plenty of hustle and bustle across SAD 61 By Dawn De Busk able. Prior to that FM radio FCC’s reversal, the aural So, did his even keel perwith several major projects Staff Writer was a simulcast of the AM (audio) signal had to be at sonality. added to a lengthy list. CASCO — During his radio programs. The station 50% of the visual signal. Among his friends was “With the two bus loop career as an electronics engi- owners were turning in their Wetzel’s research showed it Ed Shively, whom he met in projects (at Songo Locks and neer, Lew Wetzel was twice FM radio licenses because it worked well at a much lower 1952 while working for RCA. Lake Region Middle School), involved in the research that wasn’t making money. Wetzel percentage. He also befriended Harold I would estimate approxi- changed an FCC ruling and was concerned that would be a After presenting his find- Kassens, who was the assismately $1.25 million was helped in the evolution of the continuing trend. ings in 1943, the FCC ruled tance chief of the Broadcast spent on these summer proj- radio and television industry. Wetzel’s research on cir- that “all stations could reduce Bureau for the Federal ects,” Madura said. Perfecting circular polar- cular polarization in the mid- power between 10 and 20 per- Communications Commission Here’s a look at the list: ization helped FM radio get off 1960s is what allows FM radio cent.” (FCC). SAD 61, Page 4A the ground and made it profit- to be broadcast in vehicles. “All stations were able Another plus was having a That was one of the minor to shut off their aural ampli- pilot’s license, giving him the objectives, getting radio recep- fier. They could eliminate the freedom to fly with equipment tion in vehicles during peo- transmission costs. The aural from the East Coast to the ple’s commute time. In 1965, amplifier was a duplicate of West Coast to service probWetzel presented his findings the visual. You save all the lematic antennas on various in a report to the National electricity. All the usage over radio and TV towers. He first Association of Broadcasters. the years, since 1943, I esti- learned to fly when he was a The venue was switched three mate the broadcast industry junior in college. times because organizers had saved a billion dollars in costs In 1947, Wetzel earned to find a room big enough to because of the elimination of his engineering degree from fit the crowd. the aural amplifiers,” he said. LeHigh University. In 1943, the other FCC Over the years, Wetzel’s His first post-college job ruling has ultimately saved understanding of antennas was helping with the conmoney for the TV industry and radio waves and his vast struction of the Sunbury and the consumer, Wetzel said. network of friendships served Steam Electric Station on Twenty years prior to the him well. WAVES, Page 5A
No problem making ‘waves’ Casco engineer had his FCC moments
Naples seeks cost share pact with DOT
FUN AT THE FAIR — Saturday was a hectic day at Fryeburg Fair as many took advantage of great weather to enjoy Maine’s Blue Ribbon Classic. There were plenty of things to see including steers and sheep, as captured in these photos by Eric Johnson of Bridgton. There were many vendors including spinner Jenny Smith of Underhill Fibers in Gorham working with lavender yarn, shown in this photo by Dawn De Busk.
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Expanding a proposed project from simply putting in crosswalks to installing a turning lane on Route 35 has turned into costly construction. In fact, initial estimates put the project at $1 million, according to Naples Town Manager John Hawley. With a wait time of a year or more, the Town of Naples can apply for a shared cost
agreement with the state. That is the plan going forward: Naples will apply for a shared cost pact with the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT). Originally, MDOT offered to cover the cost of pedestrian crosswalks on both Route 302 and Route 35. That would include pedestals with buttons that walkers could push to alert vehicular traffic that someone was crossing the road.
However, the Naples Board of Selectmen decided it would be best to add a turning lane while work was being done in that area. The price of the turning lane would be on the town’s dime. The thought was that engineering plans for the turning lane might already exist. The idea of crosswalks to increase public safety at the intersection of Route 302 and 35 is a subject that was COST SHARE, Page 5A
Future for Info Center? By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Research shows that vacationers will seek out towns that are dogfriendly. Meanwhile, people like the idea that their town has offerings for their fourlegged friends. Brenda Leo, who manages the Visitors’ and Information Center in Naples, said residents have mentioned to her the need for a dog park as well as a place for dogs to swim. “I am talking to people to form a committee and working with [Community Activities Director] Peter Ceprano to plan a fall event in 2019 that will be pet-
friendly,” she said. “Data shows that more Mainers are staycationing and going where it is petfriendly,” she said. “With this in mind, I would like to see the dog park be reborn and offer to help with that. It is going to be an important part of making visitors feel truly welcome to Naples as well
the locals,” Leo said. Leo was speaking during a Naples Board of Selectmen meeting on Oct. 1. Naples Town Manager John Hawley introduced her as “our unofficial marketing department.” She reported to the selectmen on what has taken place this summer and also CENTER, 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