The Inside News Help with trail cleanup; DAC has laughs, singers; Better care, US vs UK Page 1B
Up for Challenge
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Raiders play with physical edge, handle York 33-12 to move up to third in Crabs
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 7B Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 7B Country Living . . . 5B-7B Directory . . . . . . . . . . 4B
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Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 3B Opinions . . . . . . . 1B-4B Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 7A Student News . . . . . . 6A Games . . . . . . . . . . . . 4B
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of western Maine since 1870 Vol. 150, No. 41
16 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
October 14, 2021
Legal Notices . . . . . . . 2B
www.bridgton.com
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Time finally right for pay-per bag approach?
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer As the cost of disposing trash continues to rise and recycling efforts has somewhat stalled, the time might finally be right to consider pay-per-bag. Bridgton’s Recycling Committee has been studying the option for months, and is gearing up to bring that question to voters at the June 2022 town meeting. The idea has been kicked around a few times over the past couple of decades, but failed to get off the planning table or failed at the ballot box. To sway voters, they will need to see the option as both economical and cost effective. Sally Chappell and Recycling Committee members are prepared for the challenge to “get the word out.” The first step will be a workshop consisting of the Select Board, Recycling Committee and other stakeholders, including the Transfer Station foreman and Bridgton Police Chief Phil Jones. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. Chappell told the Select Board Tuesday night that the Recycling Committee wasn’t ready to put the payper-bag question before voters this November, but will be well prepared for the June 2022 town meeting. With some 138 other Maine towns and cities using pay-per-bag, model ordinances are available to consider, but Chappell thinks Bridgton should tailor an ordinance based on local needs and issues — thus the reason the Recycling Committee is requesting a workshop meeting.
“We want the best possible ordinance we can have,” she said. Recycling Committee member Kate Fitzcharles said the group “feels we have done our homework,” including looking into the number of households in Bridgton, the percentage of the population at the poverty income line, the number of bags needed and start-up costs, along with warrant and ordinance language. “We have continued to educate the public (on payper-bag) and will continue to do so. We need the Board of Selectmen’s help moving forward,” she said. Selectman Bear Zaidman asked if the committee feels they will have enough time to educate the general public? Fitzcharles said the group has and will talk to civic groups, continue to write monthly letters to the editor explaining the advantages to the PPB program, and seek to re-run a public awareness spot on LRTV. “I feel we are at that point to move forward and educate while getting ready to go to town meeting,” Fitzcharles added. Chappell would like to take a similar approach that the town used when proposing marijuana regulations, as well as promoting the sewer project — creating educational mailings to send to each household. Community Development Director Linda Lacroix agreed with the approach, and estimated that the cost would be about $1,200. Lacroix noted that she did try to land a DEP grant, that would have helped the PPB educational effort as well as address a new steel beam for the Transfer Station’s
Eight set to join FA ‘Hall’
FRYEBURG — Seven individuals and two Raider baseball teams will be inducted into the Fryeburg Academy Hall of Excellence during Homecoming festivities, Oct. 15-16. Fryeburg Academy welcomes alumni, family, and friends back to campus for a full slate of activities and a chance to meet up with old friends. On Friday at 4 p.m., the Raider girls’ varsity soccer takes on Wells at home, followed by the JV game. The Homecoming bonfire begins at 6:30 p.m. with entertainment by FA’s Rock Band. Events start early on Saturday, Oct. 16, with the 11th Annual Hall of Excellence Brunch for inductees and their guests followed by the induction ceremony held in the Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center. Hall of Excellence inductees include: John McSherry ’63, Bruce Smith ’67, Kevin Turner ’76, Ileana CasellasKatz ’04, Coreen Hennessy Eccleston ’08, Brylie Walker Young ’10, and Daniel G. Lee (significant supporter), as well as the 1982 and 83 Class C State Championship baseball teams. The ceremony starts at 10:30 a.m. and is open to the public. Masks will be required inside the Performing Arts Center during the ceremony. The Hall of Excellence
John McSherry, Class of 1963
compactor, but was unsuccessful. She will continue to search out other grants. Selectman Paul Tworog encouraged the Recycling Committee take every advantage to get the word out, including seeking permission to have an informational booth at the upcoming Music on Main performance. Zaidman encouraged the use of social media. Selectman Bob McHatton noted that one of the big concerns about switching to PPB is people tossing waste into the woods to avoid fees to dispose of their trash. It’s one reason to get the Police Department on board, McHatton said. In other towns, police have tracked down such illegal dumpers and issued summonses, which ultimately stopped most of the dumps. “I want to thank the committee for its work, it’s not an easy issue,” McHatton said. “Everyone on committee very committed to the goals of pay-per-bag, and will continue to work hard,” BRIDGTON, Page 2A
PROUD MOMENT — Sarah Keene shows off the first-place ribbon, which Topaz was awarded at the Fryeburg Fair. (De Busk Photo)
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer FRYEBURG — Sisters Rachel and Karina Raymond have fond memories of going to the Fryeburg Fair when they were girls. Both in their 20s now, going to the fair was a pleasant way to spend the day, especially after not seeing each other for a long time. The two women were sitting on a bench, finishing up homemade chowder and biscuits from the local Lions Club kitchen. “We are both home from college. We had a long break this weekend. We decided it would be fun to get out and do something fun,” Rachel said. “I haven’t seen her in months.” Karina lives in Bangor now, where she started a new job. The women grew up in Waterboro. On a whim, they drove to Fryeburg to catch the last day of the fair on Sunday. “I remember coming here as a little kid with my family a lot. We would come for the rides and just a fun thing to do — To get out of the house, and go see the agriculture, the animals,” Rachel recalled. “As kids, we were all over it.” Karina remembered, “We also did the ROTC programs. We used to march in
the parades.” The sisters were planning to head to the midway next. “I am looking forward to riding the Ferris wheel a couple times,” Karina said. “I heard there is a mechanical bull. I’ve ridden before. It’s pretty fun,” Rachel said. They both decided they would test their mettle on the mechanical bull before leaving the fairgrounds. FAIR ATTENDANCE RISES After a year hiatus because of COVID-19, this year’s Fryeburg Fair had attendance numbers that surpassed 2019. “The Fair was hugely popular this year. Paid attendance at 167,000 for this year was up 4,340 over 2019,” according to Rachel Andrews Damon, Fryeburg Fair Publicity and Advertising. “Those numbers do not include our farmers, vendors, exhibitors and employees, children under 12, seniors on Tuesday. So, I’d guess that we had about 190,000 people at the fair last week,” Andrews Damon said. One wild card, the weather, helped boost instead of hamper fair attendance. “The weather was
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The money is there. It is determining how to use it in ways that are allowed that has become the stalling point. Luckily, the municipalities have two years to spend the funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, the package put together on Capitol Hill to help the United States recover from the setbacks of the pandemic. During the Naples Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday, Sept. 27, Naples Town Manager John Hawley started the discussion about how to utilize that $400,000 in federal funding.
An area chamber of commerce has a marketing campaign lined up and has solicited the town for a percentage of its funding to support that. Meanwhile, one Naples selectman said it might be more important to use the money in a way that allows small business-owners to build their labor force instead of focusing on bringing in more tourists. “I don’t think we have a shortage of tourism, but we have a shortage of people to serve them,” Selectman Kevin Rogers said. He said he’d prefer to help the small businesses attract employees. He suggested using the money for sign-on bonuses and other employ-
‘I was stoked (fair) was open!’
ICE CREAM and fried dough are popular desserts at the fair. Five-year-old Payton Tremblay, of Old Orchard, enjoys her vanilla ice cream on Sunday, which was the last day of the Fryeburg Fair. (De Busk Photo) totally in our favor. At day weekend and peak fall first rain was predicted foliage. Everyone seemed but instead we had eight happy.” “As the last fair in full days of optimal ‘fair’ weather,” she said. “Along Maine, we are a great way with great weather, it was to end the season. We are the perfect mix of a holiFAIR, Page 3A
Chamber seeks 1% of rescue funds
Bruce Smith, Class of 1967 was created in 2010 to further recognize the outstanding achievement and contributions in the area of extracurricular activities by the school’s many gifted and dedicated students and friends while maintaining the integINDUCTEES, Page 5A
ment incentives. In the end, the board voted unanimously, 5-0, to financially support the marketing efforts of the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce. The $4,000 contribution will still leave Naples with plenty of money to decide how to spend. “As we continue to explore how we can legally use the funding given to us from
the federal government, one option that we do know is permissible is economic recovery and assistance to businesses,” Hawley said. “We have been invited to participate in a multi-town marketing campaign with the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce (SLRCC). It will allow them to promote areas in the comFUNDS, Page 2A
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