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On Laker Senior Day fof football, players and fans remember Isaac Rawson
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Planting to honor polio fight; Miss Maple’s Nature House; Pumpkin People in Fryeburg
Page 7A
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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 150, No. 44
18 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
October 29, 2020
www.bridgton.com
(USPS 065-020)
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Absentee ballots flow to offices at steady rate By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — The abundance of absentee ballot requests and the need for those ballots to be secure has put added responsibilities on the shoulders of town employees everywhere. Casco Interim Town Manager Don Gerrish explained the process that the staff goes through to check the absentee ballot drop box as required by the state. “The drop box for the ballots, we were notified that we were to empty them twice a day,” Gerrish said. “It takes two people to open it. It takes two separate keys. You have to keep a record of who opens it and how many ballots are in it. You have to do it seven days a week, twice a day.” This requirement has put an extra cost on the town and demanded that staff take time out of their weekend to check lock boxes instead of waiting until Monday. “That was a whole new process,” Gerrish said. Casco Town Clerk Penny Bean estimates
If they are voting [absentee ballot] in person, some comments have ranged from how appreciative they are to have been able to come cast their vote in person and turn it in to a clerk, to how important it is to vote this year and how they will be glad when the commercials are over, — Casco Town Clerk Penny Bean that town employees have put in “at least 500 hours if not more” on absentee ballots. It’s no wonder: The number of absentee ballot requests has doubled compared to the last presidential election in 2016. In 2016, the number of requests were 621. Out of that, 602 people returned those absentee ballots. Considering that a total of 2,154 Casco residents voted in the 2016 election, more than one-quarter of those were done absentee. By Tuesday night, the number of absenABSENTEE, Page 4A
Healthy lakes need consistent level policy By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer It seems every year, Lee Eastman hears complaints about water levels at Highland Lake and Woods Pond. He hears “historically,” levels are kept at certain measurements during three periods of the year. Yet, shorefront owners say levels are kept too high at times,
thus causing erosion and even property damage. Yet, town officials keep “kicking the can down the road” — the can, in this case, water levels — rather than settle the matter in writing. Tuesday, Eastman and the Bridgton Selectboard took a step to develop a specific policy regarding what the levels should be and when lowering should occur
at the two waterbodies. Last week, Public Services Director David Madsen had published a public notice regarding the lowering of Highland Lake, starting Friday, Oct. 30. The process will cease by Nov. 30. He noted lakefront owners could then perform various repairs and improvements (after consultation with DEP and local
CEO Brenda Day regarding if such action requires a permit). Madsen told the Selectboard Tuesday night that he would like to see a written policy that would bring consistency to both waterbodies, thus keeping them “healthy.” Madsen researched handwritten notes dating back to 1985, but found no exact dates
Legion rises from ashes
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Don Mulcahy likely shook his head several times as he looked at the deteriorating condition of American Legion Post 67 in Bridgton and wondered if his group of committed veterans and friends could pull off a total rebirth. Under cloudy skies Saturday, the fruits of hard labor, a will to succeed and a community determined to save the Post were on full display as Commander Mulcahy took point on a very special rededication of Lopeman-Potts Post 67. What were the keys to making the completed project a reality? “The community of Bridgton! Without the generosity of the businesses, clubs, volunteers and trades people, it would not have happened,” said Mulcahy. Mulcahy and Post supporters saw a diamond in the rough. Today, the building is a “gem” — a place where veterans can seek out services and comradery. Creating a safe and welcoming place has also resulted in a surge in membership. Such a turnaround caught the attention of American Legion National Commander James “Bill” Oxford of North Carolina, who traveled here Saturday and received a Bridgton Police escort by Chief Phil Jones to the Post, along with Maine State Commander Matt Jabaut. “I never invited the National Commander. Commander Oxford heard about our revitalization
when to start and stop lake lowering. “It varies so much,” he said of the findings. “It’s a sensitive issue.” Selectman Bear Zaidman felt Columbus Day (plus or minus 10 days) is a good starting point since few boats remain on the water by then. But, what is best? Bill and Jean Preis have
owned property on Highland Lake for 34 years, and during that period, Bill has kept track of water levels on a regular basis. Historically, the levels have been 6.2 from May to October, 5.0 from October to November, and 5.4 from Nov. 30 to April 30. Preis rattled off levels and whether the spillway was open or closed for BRIDGTON, Page 10B
Brandy Pond Crossing
Town sets date to wrap it up
REBUILDING WAS A COMMUNITY EFFORT was the message American Legion Post 67 Commander Don Mulcahy (middle) gave as he and National Commander James Oxford presented a plaque of appreciation to Bridgton Town Robert Peabody during Saturday’s rededication ceremony. Depot Street was closed off for the ceremony. (Rivet Photos) at the national level. He wanted to come and meet us because no one had ever achieved 203% membership twice in one year. No one had ever rebuilt an American Legion Post in the community to this extent in one year. We went on to restore a historic building at the same time with no funds. This kind of revitalization does not happen every day,” Mulcahy said. The group started from scratch, but had a formula in mind to bring the Post back to prominence. They focused on the four pillars of the American Legion — veterans affairs and rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children and Youth. “Initially, the goal was to have a Service Officer based in the community. We now have four service officers. From Bridgton to Conway, N.H., there were no advocates for veterans. No one with the expertise to process benefit applications, disability REBIRTH, Page 2A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The outcome could end up one of two ways: the weather cooperates and the paving for Brandy Pond Crossing development is completed, or the paving goes undone and the Town of Naples takes over the completion of the project. On Tuesday morning, attorneys for two parties — the Town of Naples and Front Nine Homes, LLC — signed an agreement with a date of Nov. 23 for remaining work to be wrapped up. Front Nine Homes, LLC, is the company that manages the 17-lot subdivision, Brandy Pond Crossing. Developer Paul Hollis owns Front Nine Homes. About a month ago, Hollis came before the board and said that the paving had been postponed but it would be done during the first or second week of October. A contractor had been hired to do the work. On Monday, Naples Town Manager John Hawley updated the selectmen on the status of the project. As the last week of October began, there is no pavement on the road. Cold CROSSING, Page 4A
FA Campus Shutdown
Two cases of Covid-19 strike FRYEBURG — For part of the fall, Fryeburg Academy athletes had to sit on the sidelines as Oxford County Covid-19 numbers swelled and resulting in a “yellow” designation by Gov. Janet Mills’ office and the Maine CDC. A few weeks ago, Raider athletes finally got the green light to resume practices and compete in games. Now, the Academy is in shutdown after two positive Covid19 results — one a student — hit campus. In a press release, Fryeburg Academy confirmed an employee is the school’s second positive COVID-19 case on campus, following its first confirmed case that involved a student earlier in the week. “The affected individual has been isolated. Immediate famCOVID, Page 5A
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