Firehouse chatter BFD member Jay Spenciner unveils his first column, a talk with Bob Pierce Page 7A
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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 146, No. 47
28 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
November 19, 2015
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 4D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
‘Plan’ complete, zoning work to commence By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer State approval this week of Bridgton’s Comprehensive Plan means that the work of the Land Use & Zoning Committee to draft a townwide zoning plan — begun
several months ago — can now begin in earnest. “We have now concluded our review and are very pleased to inform you that we find Bridgton’s 2014 Comprehensive Plan, as submitted, to be complete and
consistent with the Growth Management Act,” Senior Planner Phil Carey of the state’s Municipal Planning Assistance Program wrote Tuesday in an e-mail to the town. Carey works for the
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the lead agency in charge of reviewing and approving municipal comprehensive plans. “Thanks to the hard work of the Comprehensive Plan Committee, (Anne
Krieg) Director of Planning, Economic & Community Development, other town staff and engaged citizens, this plan will provide important guidance to the town’s decision-makers for years to come,” he said.
The e-mail comes just over a year after voters overwhelmingly approved the comprehensive plan, an update of the 2004 plan, by a vote of 1,584 yes, 639 no. Selectmen had hoped for a PLAN, Page 2A
Recreation slowly returning to ‘Hall’ By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer The furnace is on order and should arrive soon, and for Bridgton Recreation Director Gary Colello, it can’t be soon enough. All summer and fall, most town recreation programs at Town Hall have been on hold while workers from Dotens Construction have been busy shoring up the foundation and walls of the historic North High Street building. Once the cold weather set in, the town had to set up heaters on the walls while awaiting delivery and installation of a new propane-fired HVAC system. Colello has been anxiously awaiting word that the gym will be open for recreational use again. Some of the recreation programs have continued by using temporary space elsewhere, but others have simply stopped altogether. “I understand the frustration of finding temporary homes or not even holding your program since early June. I have the same frustrations as all of you,” he wrote in a progress report to program participants. “Just two days ago, I had to cancel the Halloween Party in Bridgton which has been going on for almost 30 years.” The Halloween party was moved to smaller quarters in
the downstairs of the Bridgton Municipal Complex. The new heating system should be up and running by the end of December, but for now the portable heaters are keeping the building warm. The presence of the heaters, served by extension cords running along the walls, has meant that only low-impact activities can take place inside Town Hall. As of Monday, Tai Chi, Jumping Janes, aerobics and Zumba were able to resume meeting in Town Hall. Pickleball, table tennis, basketball and Toddler Playgroup will not be able to operate as of yet, because either wires are in the way or it is just not safe for that specific exercise, Colello said. “I am hoping to be completely open soon. Please understand it is out of my hands when it comes to the progress of the building,” Colello said. One benefit to the programs that resulted from the construction was a complete do-over of the storage area. Most of the cabinets had to be torn down to address the foundation issues, and Colello asked program leaders to come in and go through all of their equipment, such as mats, curtains and fending, throwing out equipment that HALL, Page 2A
A man makes the uniform
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Lawrence “Larry” Balboni does not mind the snow. The Naples resident does not mind the snow because he enjoys downhill skiing, especially at Sunday River Resort, and sometimes at Shawnee Peak on Pleasant Mountain. At 91 years old, Balboni tries to avoid the taking jumps on the moguls. It is not going airborne that concerns him as much as landing. “It is hard on the knees,” he said. Balboni is no stranger to knee-jarring activities or adventure. As a matter of fact, Balboni jumped out of airplanes during World War II as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division more than 70 years ago.
PUSHING HIS CLIENTS TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL — Personal trainer Greg Johnson, a Lake Region High School grad from Sebago (left), works with a client during a workout session during his trip to Barcelona, Spain. There, Greg received the international 2015 Life Fitness Personal Trainer to Watch award.
He is one of the world’s best By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer For as long as he can remember, Greg Johnson has learned and seen the importance of helping others. His parents, Cathy Munroe and Ron Johnson, were living examples for him to watch. Mom worked at Mercy Hospital in Portland and also volunteered for Sebago Rescue for over 15 years. Dad is a longtime Lions Club member, who has served in almost every position the group has, including International Director. “Since I was born, they have been helping people through their jobs and community service,” Greg said. “I now feel blessed to be able to help people in my own way.” His “way” is guiding, encouraging and pushing people from all walks of life toward a healthier being. The greatest compliments Greg may receive as a personal trainer likely come from clients, who overcome obstacles and achieve their goals through his enthusiasm and energetic approach. Recently, however, the 1997 Lake Region graduate landed international recognition for his work. Out of 1,000 nominations from 49 countries, Greg was one of four Americans to be selected a Top 10 finalist in the 2015 Life Fitness Trainer to Watch award. He emerged as this year’s top personal trainer, and received the award Oct. 30 in Barcelona, Spain. Greg rose above the other trainer finalists, all of whom demonstrated their elite training skills and passion for fitJOHNSON, Page 3A
“It did sound exciting to me — to be a paratrooper,” he said. He was a latecomer to the war, he said. He arrived in Europe in August 1944. His first combat experience happened in September 1944 when the United States 82nd Airborne Division jumped, landing in the city of Nijmegen, Holland. Along with the 101st Airborne Division and allied help from the British First Airborne Division, the mandate was to destroy bridges and roads and key communication centers in Nijmegen. “Those other fellows had been in the war since Normandy. I was still wet By Gail Geraghty behind the ears,” he said. Staff Writer “When Normandy took HARRISON — Harrison place, I was in parachute train- Selectmen and Vacationland ing in Fort Benning, Georgia,” Campground are negotiating an agreement to correct a UNIFORM, Page 6A Shoreland Zoning violation that neither side was aware of — entrance decks to campers on lakefront lots. Campground owner NAPLES — Bill O’Neil, a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War era, said he was impressed and touched by the packet of papers Gretchen Osgood met with he received at the Veterans Day Assembly held Nov. 10 at Lake the board last month and said she had no idea when she Region High School. Inside a manila envelope given to each of the 20 or so veterans bought the 100-site campwho attended, were at least a half-dozen handwritten and hand- ground in 2010 that the 11 colored thank you cards from students at Lake Region Middle decks, some simple platforms and others more elaborate, School. “They put a lot of effort into it,” he said. One of his cards, from a sixth grader, featured a big bold were illegal. She’s agreed “thank you” on front and this message inside: “Thank you for to the removal of the larger serving our country. Your family must be so proud. You are a decks and those that extend brave and amazing person!! You put your life on the line for our out over the water. Selectmen want all of freedom.” The girl drew a smiling soldier with the words “My Super Hero” pointing to the figure, and a quote: “Heroes don’t the violating decks removed within three years, but wear capes or tights, they wear dog tags and combat boots.” Another girl wrote a letter, saying, “I have a grandfather that Osgood is asking for five served a long time ago and I know how much it meant to him and years, saying anything less all of the people who have served. When you go and do some- would be an economic hardship. thing like that it means a lot to me and lots of people.
Touched by cards
GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED — Greg Johnson, formerly of Sebago, receives the 2015 Life Fitnesss award from the organization’s president, Chris Clawson. Over 1,000 candidates from across the globe were nominated for the award. Four of the Top 10 finalists were from the United States.
Town seeks deck enforcement “People are threatening to leave,” said Osgood. “When I bought the campground, all of my waterfront sites had decks of their own, and some of them have been there for 30 years…there’s 11 of them, and that’s $44 grand out of my pocket” in terms of seasonal leases, she said. Code Enforcement Officer John Wentworth, however, had misgivings about waiting too long to correct the violation. “In essence, you’re allowing something that hasn’t been permitted to exist, that you don’t have the authority to do,” Wentworth told the board. Board member Richard St. John said three years would be a prudent time frame because all of the state codes, including Shoreland Zoning, plumbing and building codes, change on a three-year cycle. Wentworth said the water-
front sites are grandfathered sites with regard to the campers, but not with regard to structures. “The problem is, there is no record of anybody permitting anything. So I can’t very well say they are grandfathered.” Osgood said when she bought the campground for $1 million, she was required by the bank to obtain a statement saying the campground was in compliance with Shoreland Zoning. The town provided such a statement, under a former code enforcement officer. After Wentworth came on, he started looking
into the issue, which came to a head when an elaborate deck was built for one of the campers last year. Osgood said, “I will comply with whatever I’m forced to do.” But she said she wished the board would consider allowing the decks already there to stay until such time as the owners of the campers leave the site or the lot is leased to someone else. “I just think this is unreasonable — people are going to leave,” she said. It was pointed out that in neighborDECK, Page 2A
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