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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 147, No. 48
24 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
December 1, 2016
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 4D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Pantry closure leads to new food bank
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer HARRISON — The Harrison Food Pantry closed its doors in September, leaving a void for residents who depended on the bi-monthly food distributions. Community members have been working hard to fill that void by setting up the future Harrison Food Bank, which will be located at the Ronald G. St. John VFW Post 9328 at 176 Waterford Road. A former director of the food pantry that closed its
doors confirmed a replacement pantry was in the making, and food donations are very much needed. Barbara Merrill was the director of the Harrison Food Pantry until the end of 2015, she said. Merrill was not in the state of Maine at the time that she was interviewed. But, she has been keeping in touch with volunteer Kevin Varney and both of them have been updating posts on the food pantry’s Facebook page. “It closed at the end of
September,” she said. “We will be opening another one at the VFW hall in Harrison. It will be called the Harrison Food Bank,” she said. “As soon as they can get everything ready” it will be open to the public, she said. People have moved an extra fridge and a freezer into the space that will be used for the food bank, she said. “Someone donated those brand new from Lowe’s” Home Improvement store, Merrill said.
“Someone is donating their service and time for building the shelves,” she said. Merrill did not have handy a contact number for Varney, who is currently involved with setting up the food bank to remedy the closure of the food pantry. Donations can be dropped off at the VFW Post, which is located at 176 Waterford Rd., or at the Harrison Lions Den, 46 Main St. “We are in bad need of donations,” Merrill said.
Sweden opens its doors to neighbor
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer SWEDEN — Resident Shirley Crow knows the importance of being a good neighbor. After all, like so many people in the Lake Region communities, she works at a food pantry. Crow helps to operate the Sweden Food Pantry. When she heard about the closure of the Harrison Food Pantry this fall, she knew that it would be a natural transition to offer food distributions to Harrison residents. The food pantries in most towns are set up to serve only residents of that town. “We don’t have any restrictions that way. We have people from Lovell, Stow,
Stoneham and even Fryeburg. So, we are open to taking people from Harrison,” Crow said. “That’s what being neighbors is about.” The Sweden Food Pantry is located in the Sweden Community Church United Church of Christ, 137 Bridgton Rd. The Sweden Food Pantry is open twice a month, on the first and third Wednesday of the month. The pantry is open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. People are allowed to do shopping from the selection of food laid out on the tables, Crow said. The church is easy to find, she said. “It’s right on Route 93, also called Bridgton Road,” she noted.
A FOOD REQUEST — Nonperishable food is needed now to stock the shelves at the new location of the Harrison Food Bank. The future food bank will be located in the The next food distribu- Ronald G. St. John VFW Post 9328 at 176 Waterford tion at the Sweden Food Road — that is where donations can be accepted. (De Busk Photo) Pantry is Dec. 7. “We do require a driver’s Crow commented on the Catch 22 of license, and one utility bill working at a food pantry. or another form of ID,” Crow said. “You are open, hoping you close. But, I “We use the program, Temporary Food Assistance Program (TFAP). And, we have worked at a food pantry in Worchester for to report to them,” Crow said, explaining five years. So, I know there is a growing need,” she said. why there are ID requirements. At the previous food pantry, where Crow “We had four new people the last time we were open, the Wednesday before volunteered, they “handed out maybe two Thanksgiving. I don’t know if they were grocery bags of food.” People using the Sweden Food Pantry from Harrison or not,” she said. “We service between 40 and 50 people a month. get a nice bounty, she said. “What we do now, everyone gets at least We have at least 75 names on the list. Some come once, some once a month,” she added. two banana boxes full,” Crow said.
Can electronics fit with historical preservation? By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Use of an electronic message board on the Bridgton Town Hall grounds on North High Street is still in play. While selectmen initially were somewhat cool to the idea of replacing the current events board with modern technology at last week’s board meeting, they remained open-minded if an aesthetically-pleasing sign could be found. The town budgeted $12,000 to purchase an electronic sign to replace a wooden announcement board outside the Town Hall on North High Street. Some residents, however, voiced disapproval, feeling
the electronic board would not mesh well with the “historic” hall property. Selectman Bob McHatton said some people suggested that the town could look into installing electronic signs at two outer points of town, possibly near Venezia Italian Restaurant on North High Street and in the area of Paris Farmers Union. McHatton encouraged the board to decide whether to seriously look at the electronic sign issue or dump it, and not waste town planner Anne Krieg’s time seeking out additional information and prices. Selectman Bernie King wondered how much “modernization” is needed at the
Permit renewed
DENMARK — Poland Spring will continue to extract water from Cold Spring for the next five years. Denmark Selectmen voted 2-0 Tuesday night to renew the extraction permit. Selectmen Jay Transue and Richard Mason Jr. approved the permit while Richard Snow recused himself from the vote, according to Town Manager Chris Louglin. At a public hearing, several residents encouraged selectmen to delay action on the renewal to allow some time to investigate the effects of water extraction in relation to drought conditions in the area. At the Nov. 8 election, a citizen petition seeking a delay was signed by 314 residents.
town hall, and he disagreed with McHatton as to positioning signs at the eastern and western travel points of town. “I think it would be a little too distracting,” King said. “It should be in one place…I really don’t want the electronic sign.” Board Chairman Greg Watkins pointed to the town’s sign ordinance that dictates where the electronic sign can be located — Pondicherry Square to the Naples town line. “I don’t feel it would be best suited in front of the town hall,” Watkins said. “I do understand the convenience (electronic signs provide) compared to making changes out there during the winter. I’m sensitive to that.” Town Manager Robert Peabody said early discussions regarding use of an electronic sign first surfaced at the town’s Community Development Committee meetings. “We’re not very good at getting information out on what’s going on in town. That type of sign is effective in getting messages out,” Peabody said. “Talking with
the rec director, there is a constant change of events at the town hall, which requires to go out there and constantly change that sign. People become accustomed to looking toward that sign for events.” Peabody added “it was given a great deal of thought” to consider an electronic board, but “it’s whatever the board decides.” Currently, electronic signs are used at the Magic Lantern Theatre, Hancock Lumber and McDonald’s. Selectman Bear Zaidman asked that town officials look into whether there are electronic boards that “don’t look electronic — smoother, you don’t look at a bunch of little light bulbs” that might “fit” at the town hall. Zaidman wondered if sign companies might send selectmen a CD or video that illustrates various sign styles as well as lettering brightness. “Nothing bright and dazzling,” he added. “Is there an electronic sign that is aesthetically pleasing that would fit in that situation?” Watkins figures if sign companies are looking to make a sale, they would like-
90 years, something to roar about By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Al Glover vividly remembers how he was lured to be a Lion. “I caught a girl cheating my first year teaching here (Bridgton High School), and I was told the principal wanted to see me. I thought, ‘Gee, word travels fast in this place.’ So, I went down to see him and his opening comment was, ‘Would you like to be my guest Monday night at the Lions Club meeting?’ I went and I’ve been a part of the club ever since,” Al said. Al has been somewhat of a cornerstone for the Bridgton club, which is the third oldest in Maine — behind Portland and Bangor. He is presently the oldest member of the local service organization at 58 years of service. “We are within three years of each other (the three
original clubs),” Al said. “I think there was some type of connection between someone in Portland who knew someone in Bridgton. I knew Ed Corliss, who was Pat Rafferty’s father-in-law (and was the first Bridgton King Lion). That’s why some accuse me of being a charter member (there were 20).” “When I first joined, it was about being a business professional — shirt and tie. That’s gone. Now, if you are interested, want to help somebody and the community, a little bit of dedication and time, we want you. You’ll have fun doing it,” Al said. The Bridgton Lions Club celebrated their 90th anniversary on Monday, Nov. 21 at Bridgton Academy. After dinner, a Proclamation from Governor 90 YEARS, Pag1C
ly be willing to send promotional material to help lure Bridgton to a possible buy. Rec Director Gary Colello said the outside framing, which the electronic board would sit within, would be in style with the town hall structure. As for the board itself, Colello said the range of options is wide. “You could get one with
200 colors or one that is just black and white,” he said. “From my understanding, you can turn down the (lighting) brightness. You can also use other colors to take that brightness down.” Colello questioned selectmen as to whether they were simply concerned about brightness or about content? SIGN, Page 6A
Shootings: Two men dead CASCO — A man seeking vengeance against an exgirlfriend resulted in a fatal shooting Sunday in Naples. Norman J. Strobel was shot and killed by Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office deputies after a confrontation at a mobile home on Songo School Road in Naples early Sunday morning. Strobel was being sought in connection with a shooting at 10:45 p.m. at a Winifred Lane home in Casco Saturday. Police say Strobel had Norman Strobel threatened his ex-girlfriend, Sandra Goulet, on several occasions, despite the issuance of restraining orders. The volatile situation came to a head Saturday night when Strobel, who had been released from jail exactly one week ago for violating his probation, went to Goulet’s cottage in Casco. He was accompanied by Richard J. Diekema Sr., 55, of Naples, who reportedly had befriended Strobel in July and recently allowed Strobel to move into his twobedroom mobile home. Police say two people were at the residence — Goulet’s daughter, Alyssa (age 28), and her boyfriend, Jason Almeida (32) of Middleton, R.I. Strobel and Diekema came to the door and Strobel produced a handgun and started shooting through a window. Almeida was shot, and he was subsequently taken by Casco Rescue to Bridgton Hospital and later to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston in critical condition. Strobel and Diekema fled the scene, but Goulet was able to identify the shooter to police. Police say Strobel later called Sandy Goulet, who was TWO MEN, Page 4A
The Bridgton News Established 1870
CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT — Norman Hart, 1st Vice District 41 Governor (right) presents to Bridgton Lions President Al Glover a Certificate of Achievement issued by the Lions District 41 (Maine).
P.O. Box 244, 118 Main St. Bridgton, ME 04009 207-647-2851 Fax: 207-647-5001 bnews@roadrunner.com