Community Roomful of Blues at SM; plenty of tricks & treats; back in time at Military Ball Section B
Inside sports
Inside News
Lakers make early goal count against Cape in field hockey playoff opener
Calendar . . . . . . . 3B-4B Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 5D Country Living . . . 1B-6B Directory . . . . . . . . . . 5C
Section C
Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 3D Opinions . . . . 1D-4D, 6D Police/Court . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . 1C-8C Student News . . . . . . . . Games . . . . . . . . . . . . 5C Enjoy these fall days!
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870 Vol. 149, No. 43
24 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
October 24, 2019
www.bridgton.com
(USPS 065-020)
95¢
Finally, it’s the right ‘fit’
Selectmen confirm LaCroix as development director By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer The search for a Community Development Director is finally over. After rejecting a couple of candidates, the selectboard unanimously voted 5–0 to confirm Linda L. LaCroix of North Adams, Mass., as the town’s new development director. LaCroix, 58, was “honored” and greatly “appreciative” for the opportunity as she enters “a different stage of my life.” She told the selectboard that “Bridgton is part of my soul” and that the Community Development Director job presents “an opportunity to do something — be of service.” “Bridgton has a special place in my heart as my family stayed at the former Stone’s Camp on Highland Lake all throughout my childhood to teenage years,” she wrote in her job application. “I know and love the town, the lake and the people who live there. It would be an honor to hold such an important position to the overall well-being and desirability of Bridgton to those who live and play in, and to those who have yet to experience this treasured
Maine sanctuary.” After listening to discussions regarding upcoming referendum items on the Nov. 5 ballot (comments on Question 2, repeal of the town’s existing Affordable Housing Local Preference Ordinance and Question 3, the citizen’s petition that the town adopt an Adult Use Marijuana Ordinance will appear in next week’s edition), LaCroix appreciated the willingness to discuss and debate matters in an honest and civil way. She said it was an example of the people of Bridgton being “real” and “straight talkers.” Officials posed a few questions to the nominee. LaCroix feels she would bring the right skill set to the job, as well as a genuine interest to fully involve herself into the community — for example, she would try to knock on every door and meet as many residents as possible. Selectman Fred Packard pointed to the town’s investments in streetscape and wastewater disposal, priming the community for future commercial development. LaCroix applauded the drive to improve infrastructure first, with an eye to
future possibilities. Selectman Bear Zaidman asked if LaCroix had grant experience, which she answered “yes.” He followed up with whether she was familiar with the Community Block Grant program. That was one area she would need to look into. Chairman Lee Eastman approached the sensitive matter regarding the possible exit of Town Manager Bob Peabody — who is a finalist for the same position in Boothbay Harbor (a decision will likely come in another week or so). How did LaCroix feel about working for someone else? “I work for the town,” LaCroix said, and she would be confident that officials “would find an excellent person to take” Peabody’s place. LaCroix sees herself as part of the town’s “team.” “I want to work in a place where people have each other’s back no matter who is on the team,” she said. “In the end, it’s all about engagement…and agreeing to collaborate.” Eastman admitted finding a new director has been a “difficult process” as the town has searched high and low for the “per-
The LaCroix File • September 2016 to Present, President and CEO at Arbor Point Partnership, LLC; Specialties include energy technologies, energy regulation and the law, sustainable business development, project management, process analysis, contract negotiation, strategic planning, design and specification, business management, policy development, leadership training, information management • Vermont state representative, National Association of Home Builders, Jan. 2013 – Jan. 2016 • Partner, Aspen Construction Services, Corp., Bondville, Vt. • Town of Shaftsbury (Vt.), selectmen’s clerk 1991-95 • Berkshire Life Insurance/Wellesley Financial Group (Mass.), pension administrator/broker assistant, 1989–91 • Town of Millis (Mass.), Capital Planning Commission member/secretary, 1987–89 Linda LaCroix • Ph.D., MIT, Department of Linguistics and New CD Director Philosophy, concentration in Philosophy of Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics • Vermont Law School, master’s degree in Environmental Law and Policy, concentration in climate change and energy regulation; summa cum laude • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, master’s degree of Business Administration (MBA), concentration in global sustainable business management and clean energy technologies (study in Rome, Italy, Shanghai, China and Washington, D.C.) • University of Vermont, bachelor’s degree in Political Science; bachelor’s in Philosophy; minor in Computer Science • Phillips Academy, 1975–1979 • Licenses — Managing on the Edge Residency, Washington, D.C.; International Scholars Program, RPI; DOE Builders Challenge Partner, U.S. Department of Energy; EPA Energy Star Partner, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Certified Graduate Builder; Certified Green Professional fect fit.” Eastman applauded LaCroix’s “candor and honesty, which goes a long way” for him. After making that comment, Eastman made a motion to confirm
LaCroix’s nomination. Finally at 7:27 p.m., Bridgton had netted a new planner. On her application, LaCroix listed an availabil-
ity date of Oct. 1. The News was unable to confirm her start date or salary before press time. In other selectmen notes: BRIDGTON, Page 2A
Not your typical vote, selectman’s vacancy on ballot By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Typically, Naples residents reseat their selectmen during the school budget referendum in May. However, circumstances have shifted the race for the Naples Board of Selectmen to Nov. 5, which is the traditional Election Day for the rest of the nation. In the coming weeks, Naples residents who go to polls or vote via absentee ballot will have a choice of three people to fill one seat. The circumstances that brought about citizens voting for a selectman in the autumn instead of the spring — Selectman Rich Cebra resigned. The vacant seat has a
term which ends in June 2021. The residents running for the open seat are: Caleb Humphrey, Patty Curran Raitto, and Rick Paraschak. Humphrey, 34, is currently active on the Naples Budget Committee. In recent months, he has been attending and participating in workshops for the proposed Special Amusement Ordinance and the Outdoors Gathering Ordinance. Humphrey is selfemployed, owning a small machine repair business. Paraschak, too, is selfemployed. The 65-yearold Naples resident owns Earth Solutions, an excavating and design company. The Maine Department of
Transportation (MDOT) employed Paraschak as an engineering technician. For years, he has been a Naples firefighter and EMT. Paraschak is familiar with the Naples Board of Selectmen; he served several terms on the board. Currently, Paraschak serves as an alternate on the Naples Planning Board. Also, he has been on the school board, the Naples Budget Committee and the board of directors for Evergreen Credit Union. Raitto, 61, works as a district mathematic coach for the Regional School District #14, which includes Windham and Raymond schools. She has a master’s degree in science.
Caleb Humphrey
Patty Curran Raitto
Rick Paraschak
In her chosen career field, she has served on many leadership committees. She has been among the community members who have been attending and participating in the workshops for the proposed Special
Amusement Ordinance and Outdoors Gathering Ordinance. Raitto and her husband Michael have three children: Gavin, Rainie, and Morgan. The candidates were each asked nine questions.
The candidates’ responses are listed in alphabetical order according to their last names. B-News: In your estimation, what is/are the biggest challenge(s) facing NAPLES, Page 3A
AT — A challenge conquered
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Like many growing up in the Lake Region, Nicole Fox of Naples developed a genuine love of the outdoors. She hiked as a child and teenager, but it wasn’t an activity that she often pursued. That changed in college — believe it or not — when she left the land of pines after graduating from Lake Region High School in 2015 to study psychology at the University of Florida. “Strangely enough, it wasn’t until I had moved to Florida for college that I became more interested in the outdoors — especially overnight backpacking. It lured me in because it’s simple. You set a goal and you complete it, and everything you need to survive is carried on your back,” she said. “On top of that, going outdoors is relaxing. It was something I used to cope with stress.” In March of 2017, Nicole led a spring break trip through UF’s outdoor club. The group tackled the first 40 miles of the Appalachian Trail and it happened to be peak season A WELCOMED SIGHT for Nicole Fox of Naples, the for thru-hikers beginning their arrival at the Maine-New Hampshire state line, the journey. final leg of her Appalachian Trail journey. “In just four days, I met so
STARTING POINT — Nicole and hiking partner, Kayla, pose for a photo at Amicalola Falls in Dawsonville, Ga. Nicole hiked 2,190.9 miles to reach Mt. Katahdin back in her home state of Maine. Nicole conquered the most the Amicalola Falls Visitor’s many aspiring thru-hikers and became extremely interested in trying journey of her life — Center in northern Georgia the culture. I couldn’t shake she hiked the Appalachian to reaching the top of Mt. it from my mind, and to be Trail, starting May 7 from NICOLE, Page 6A honest, I wanted to keep going north once our trip had ended,” Nicole said. “I went home and decided that one day I would Established 1870 attempt a thru-hike. As I planned for the next two years, P.O. Box 244, 118 Main St. I was motivated by the thought Bridgton, ME 04009 of challenging myself mentally 207-647-2851 and physically, as well as the Fax: 207-647-5001 thought of gaining some muchbnews@roadrunner.com needed confidence.”
The Bridgton News