Entertaining
Raiders spank MV
Inside News
‘Bad Dates’ at Schoolhouse; Choreographer in the house; ‘Damnationland’ review
Despite rain and a driving wind, Fryeburg Academy exploded for a playoff win
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 4B
Page 1B-2B
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 4D Country Living . . . 1B-5B Directory . . . . . . . . . . 5D
Page 1C
Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 3D Opinions . . . . . . . 1D-7D Police/Court . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . 1C-8C Entertainment . . . 1B-2B Games . . . . . . . . . . . . 5C
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 147, No. 44
32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
November 3, 2016
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 5D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Tuesday is a very big day!
HISTORIC MOVE — People with cameras and iPads lined North High Street and Main Street Wednesday morning to record the move of the Rufus Porter Museum’s Nathan Church House from its North High Street location to its new home on Church Street. The building was moved by Dana Watson of Naples. Fairpoint and Central Maine Power workers lifted utility lines to enable the building to make its slow but steady trip to its new home. It was the third time the historic home has been relocated. Before the structure was moved onto a foundation, Rev. Emily Goodnow of the First Congregational Church in Bridgton offered a blessing. (Rivet Photos)
Election Day is this Tuesday, Nov. 8, with area polls open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters will be busy in the booth, between selecting the country’s next president to the state and local level as to who will represent them in Augusta and Washington, D.C. In Bridgton, four candidates look to fill the vacant seat left by Paul Hoyt. The candidates include: Jeff Jones — originally from Windham, but grew up in Sonoma, Calif., Jones moved back to Maine in 2004 and has been a resident of Bridgton since 2008, with the exception of a quick three-year career stint back in California. “I came back to our great town in 2013 to help expand the family business (Jones Appliance Service and Repair),” he said. Jones is 33 years old, with a background in Business Management. At the last annual Town Meeting, I was happy to see what I thought was an above average turnout. On the other hand, I found something disturbing. Many people came to the podium to express their frustrations. Many felt like the selectmen have not been listening to them year after year. They wanted a better understanding of what projects will ultimately cost the taxpayer and not the startup price (i.e. a parking lot and a building across the street). They have asked for the budget to more legible with the previous years numbers side by side for comparison. They had valid issues that should not have been needed to be addressed,” he said. “If the selectmen had listened to the people, then the meeting would have been completed in half the time. Things need to change. That change started with the election of Glenn
‘Bear’ Zaidman. I may not always agree with Bear, but his commitment to transparency and education of town issue to its citizens is something to be admired. A step in the right direction and I believe I am that next step.” Jones added, “I was also concerned about the lack of age diversity at the annual Town Meeting. I counted only 25 to 27 people under the age of 40. I do not believe that number is a good representation of this town. We need younger citizens involved in the town. If elected, I would be the youngest on the board. I can relate to the citizens of the future. I know their needs and wants. We have a high percentage of our elementary student body that is living under the poverty rate. Many parents commute outside of town for work. Many do not work at all due to the lack of employment opportunities in Bridgton or because they do not have a vehicle or both. I am advocating bringing jobs to our town. The town was built around jobs and we need them back. We also need to bring back tourism as well. We can do this by first seeking out companies to not only invest in the town; but it’s people. Not just the companies that can offer employment for 1–5 people but 20+ and still find a way to keep that small town feel that we love and enjoy. We then can use this new source of revenue with the help of grants to help offset the cost of redevelopment of Main Street.” Robert Murphy — Having 46 years experience as a local contractor and 25 years as an on-call fireman, Murphy says he would bring “common sense” to the position. “I’m not a politician,” he said. “My concerns in dealing with people are BALLOT, Page 6A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — A resident recommended that the local public officials should better publicize specially-scheduled meetings, including those in executive session. On Monday, resident Jim Grattelo said he heard that the Naples Board of Selectmen met last week in executive session. He said he thought the meeting had not been properly advertised. Chairman Bob Caron II said Town Attorney Sally Daggett had advised them, “You have to notify the
(news)paper, the board, and it has to be posted on the (bulletin) board at the town office.” Caron said this was done on Monday, Oct. 24, as soon as the board decided to hold the meeting. The executive session meeting took place Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. at the town hall. Town Secretary Kate Matthews e-mailed members of the media on the morning of Oct. 24. The Bridgton News was unable to print an advertisement about it since the meetCLOSED, Page 8A
More notice on closed sessions?
‘Star’ families share sorrow, pride Our stories and circumstances are different, but we all have the same sorrow. It is a sadness that does not diminish with the passing of time, — Ryann Roukey, wife of fallen soldier, Army Sgt. Larry Roukey Buxaum was only 23 years old when he died. On May 26, 2008, Buxaum’s rifle accidently discharged as his best friend handed it to him. The bullet, which went through his lung and out his shoulder, resulted in a fatal injury. “He was alive for 45 minutes after the accident. His last words were, ‘My mom is going to be mad at me,’” Julia Buxaum said. “It was Memorial Day that year. I had moved with my younger son to Georgia.
I moved in with my mom because I was having a hard time,” she said. “We were having a cookout. I looked out the window. I watched a car pull up and two guys from the military got out. I knew right away,” Buxaum said. “My mom went to the door because I fell to the floor.” Ryann Roukey became a widow on April 26, 2004, after her husband Army Sgt. Larry Roukey was killed in a building explosion in Baghdad. He was the first
U.S. Post Office employee whose life was claimed in the conflict. His death happened six weeks after he enlisted, and two weeks after arriving in Baghdad. On the day that she received the horrible news of his death, she had just returned from the grocery store. “The military van was in the driveway when I came home. They were in the house, sitting with my 15-year-old daughter and my son, who was two years old,” she said. “Even though it’s been 12 years, it never changes the fact it feels like it was yesterday,” she said. During the Gold Star Ceremony she shared her thoughts with those present, but first she thanked her hosts at the Legion for a wonderful meal. “Thank you. My belly is GOLD STAR, Page 8A
CHANGE YOUR CLOCK – CHANGE YOUR BATTERY
Daylight Savings Time Ends
Now is the time to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Set your clocks back one hour Sunday, November 6th.
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
1T44
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The cruel twist of life unfolded when Mainer Julia Buxaum learned of her son’s death on Memorial Day eight years ago. On Oct. 15, Buxaum found comfort in the stories and compassion of other people who have lost family members to the overseas conflicts since 9-11. The American Legion Post No. 155 in Naples recently presented Gold Star banners to the families of four Mainers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Julia’s son, Spc. Justin Buxaum died in uniform during the War on Terror in Afghanistan. He did not die during combat or from a roadside bomb as have many other Mainers. A graduate of South Portland High School,