Holiday favorite The annual Christmas in Harrison celebration is set to get folks into holiday spirit Page 1B
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Rocks stacked along the North Bridgton Beach shore appeared last week. Why?
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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 147, No. 47
24 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
November 24, 2016
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 4D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
SAD 61 developing projects to ease parking, access issues
BUSINESS PERSON OFTHE YEAR, Jessica Jones, owner of Firefly Boutique in Bridgton. The honor was presented at the Greater Bridgton-Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce annual Awards Banquet last week at Shawnee Peak. Photos of other honorees appear on Page 3A.
One on One with...
Jessica Jones
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer The Jones File Even though Jessica Age: 39 Jones came from four gen Grew up in erations of retailers, she Marblehead, Mass. never considered following Graduated with a that same path. bachelor’s degree in At first. Interdisciplinary Studies Then, she changed her in Society, Ethics and mind. Human Behavior with a It proved to be a wise Minor in Human Rights career choice. from the University of Today, Jessica is the Washington; proud owner of Firefly Attended Northwest Boutique, located on Main Aviation Academy in Street in Bridgton, and last Washington, achieved week was named the Greater private pilot license, Bridgton Lakes Region commercial and instruChamber of Commerce ment ratings; “Business Person of the House cleaner for Year” at the organization’s four years while going annual Awards Banquet to college (own business held at Shawnee Peak. using all natural prodPrior to receiving ucts) ; the award, Jessica was First jobs: working described as “an active for a toothbrush facsupporter of the Chamber tory, pizza joint, selling and is an active member art at the Seattle pubof our community working lic market, making hors with other local businesses d’oeuvres, waitress at to come up with promo- several restaurants such tions that will highlight her as the International business, as well as other House of Pancakes businesses in the area… (awful sticky job); She is very instrumental Traveled extensively in planning and executing through Southeast Asia, Bridgton’s Annual Ladies South America, Central Weekend and is on the cut- America, Mexico, ting edge of Social Media as Caribbean, parts of shown with her new video Europe and Africa and promoting Firefly Boutique most of the United on Facebook.” States; started backpackThe News reached out to ing at age 18 through Jessica Jones for this week’s South America ; “One on One with…” proMoved to Bridgton in file: 2005 from Seattle to be BN. What was your with boyfriend, Rick; reaction to being named Owner of Firefly “Business Person of the Boutique, Main Street, Year” at the annual Chamber Bridgton. dinner, and what does it mean to you? Jessica: Complete surprise! I feel so honored by the Chamber and the community. The recognition made me feel a sense of accomplishment. I am very thankful! BN. How did you get started in business? Jessica: Accidentally, as great things sometimes do. Even though I came from four generations of retailers, I never considered it for myself. I started in wholesale first JESSICA, Page 3A
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Finding a parking space or trying to safely drop off students during school rush hours can be difficult at Lake Region Middle and Songo Locks Elementary Schools. Those issues could soon be eased. Discussions by the SAD 61 School Board’s facilities and finance committees with Andy Madura, director of Transportation, Maintenance and Food Service, have resulted in two proposals to address these long-time concerns. Madura unveiled sketches of proposed work to be done at the two schools (see graphics). In each case, there will be bus lanes and drop-off areas, similar to the design SAD 61 used at Stevens Brook Elementary in Bridgton. At LRMS, the school presently has 77 parking spaces, which includes six handicap slots. The plan would bring the total to 116 spaces. Estimated cost is $228,000, but increased lighting, repairs to the back parking lot and sidewalks (about $50,000) and Maine Department of Environmental Protection approvals and survey ($12,000), the project will reach about $290,000. At Songo Locks, there are
SAFER AND MORE SPACES — A schematic rendering of the proposed additional parking and rearrangement of spaces at Lake Region Middle School. presently 89 parking spaces and two handicap slots. The proposed project would include adding a second enter/exit point and increased parking. Thirty-six parking spaces will be designated as parent drop-off spots (but
could also be used for parking during special events) with two handicap slots. The project would result in 254 parking spots and five handicap slots. Projected cost is $468,618, which includes lighting
upgrades and landscaping, but the wild card will be expenses created by DEP involvement, which Madura will not be able to lock down until the district’s application is reviewed by the state PARKING, Page 5A
Marriage recipe: humor, trust By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Marian Merrill was a single woman going to college in West Virginia when she decided to look for a summertime job. That’s how she found an opening at Howard Johnson’s in Naples, Maine. She was in the right place to meet her future husband Curtis Merrill. “It was the summer of ‘62. I was the Causeway pick-up,” she joked. “Back in those days, people didn’t have cars. When we came up to work for the summer we didn’t have cars either so we started dating anyone who could take us to the Laundromat.” “The Causeway — people wouldn’t recognize it if they hadn’t been there back then. No one had cars. Everything was on the Causeway,” she said. Her husband Curtis added, “That was where everybody ended up — on the Causeway.” Marian continued, “There were seaplanes and boats. It was great time. My folks didn’t know I was going to have so much fun. There was a group of guys he belonged to that was called the Neighbors. One of them had a house in the village.” “That was what the gang was called,” Curtis said. When asked what the Neighbors did, he answered, “Drank beer.” Marian said they “just hung out, laughed, joked” and were open to spontaneous fun, and would do whatever they could to help out
other people. “The Neighbors were a good group of men,” she said. Curtis and Marian met on the Causeway in 1962. But, they did not start dating until the following summer in 1963, times which they described recently as they sat down to talk about marriage after 50 years. On Nov. 5, a 50-year anniversary party was held for Curtis and Marian. Perhaps, it was supposed to be a surprise party. But, it was an impossible mission to keep it secret since the golden anniversary party was being held at the American Legion Post 155, where the Merrills volunteer so much of their time. In fact, Curtis and Marian could be called the backbone of Post 155, the sweethearts of Maine veterans. Although Curtis stepped down as post commander in 2015, a lot of questions and requests still come his way. This year, Curtis and Marian have focused their volunteer energy on helping the veterans at Togus Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. In 1962, Curtis was in the U.S. Army, and he was stationed in Ludwigsburg, Germany. That summer, he on emergency leave and had come home to Casco because his father was dying. The following year, in 1963, Curtis had served his active duty and he returned home to the Lake Region. He had been born and raised in Casco, and his mother ran a nursing home off Route 302. Curtis liked his hometown, RECIPE, Page 2A
Denmark time
DENMARK — The next meeting of the Denmark Selectmen will be on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. In last week’s article, the story indicated that selectmen would make their ruling on whether to renew Poland Spring’s water extraction permit for Cold Spring at 6:30 p.m. The Nov. 29 agenda begins with a public hearing on the General Assistance Ordinance followed by the selectmen’s meeting, Town Manager Christopher Loughlin reported.
A SLICE OF HEAVEN — Curtis and Marian Merrill cut the cake that was served as part of their 50th wedding anniversary celebration at the American Legion Post 155 on Nov. 5. Later, the couple described meeting for the first time on the Naples Causeway in 1962 although they did not start dating until the following summer. (Photo courtesy of Steve Merrill)
Voters to decide 5 or 3 on board FRYEBURG — Holly Foster’s effort to bring the question of whether the Fryeburg Board of Selectmen should be increased to five members to voters will be realized in January. “Thanks to 575 validated voters, we successfully petitioned to question if Fryeburg voters want a five-selectmen board,” Foster reported. A special town meeting will be held on Jan. 10, 2017. The warrant will include two items: one to vote to seat the third selectman, and two to decide whether to keep the board at three members or expand to five. Foster reminds voters that Dec. 8, 2016 absentee ballots will be available from the town clerk. “We all worked hard to have this right to vote, so please vote,” Foster added.
The Bridgton News Established 1870
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