Festive weekend Big crowds turned out for Christmas in Harrison and Festival of Lights Pages 5A, 6B
Sports guide
Inside News
The basketball season opens for the Lakers and Raiders this Friday; track soon
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 4B Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 4D Country Living . . . 1B-4B
Page 1C
Directory . . . . . . . . . . 5D Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 3D Opinions . . . . . . . 1D-6D Police/Court . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . 1C-5C Student News . . . 6C-8C Games . . . . . . . . . . . . 5C
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 147, No. 49
28 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
December 8, 2016
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 4D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Paris Farmers Union to open Raymond store
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer RAYMOND — If anyone had on their Christmas wish list the opening of a hardware store in Raymond, their request will be met. But, they won’t be shopping there until around Valentine’s Day. A Paris Famers Union store will be opening in Raymond, according to Marketing Director Mike Rogers. “Our tentative date will be between Feb. 1 and March 1,” Rogers said. The location of the future Paris Farmers Union is in the building that once housed Aubuchon Hardware in the Raymond business district. The property is owned by Richard “Rick” and Sharon Dodson. “The building is actually like it was designed for” a Paris Farmer Union store, Roger said. “The setup is fantastic. 302 is a great road for bringing in customers,” he said. “The
location falls halfway between the Bridgton and Portland locations.” “We are hoping to hire eight to ten people, some part-time, some full-time, a little bit of both,” Rogers said. “Our assistant manager in Bridgton will be taking the manager’s job in Raymond.” “We will have our regular array of Paris Farmers’ goods: pet foods, all our hardware from nuts and bolts to hot water heaters, regular farm supplies, chicken and farm animal supplies, metal roofing,” he said. The new store will also hold events like the chick days twice a year, pet photo days, and seminars on topics like bee-keeping, he said. “All that local community stuff will be going on at the new Paris Farmers Union,” he said. The process of going from ‘that would be nice building for this business’ to a done deal RAYMOND, Page 7A
Hearing set on proposed Fryeburg board change FRYEBURG — A public hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. at the American Legion Hall to inform residents about a proposal to increase the Fryeburg Board of Selectmen from three to five members. 575 validated voters in Fryeburg successfully peti-
tioned for an article on the Jan. 10, 2017 Special Town Meeting warrant to see if residents want a five member board of selectmen. If residents vote to increase the board membership, in June two additional selectmen will be seated. Selectmen earn a stipend of $2,500 each and there would be some addi-
tional costs such as liability and worker’s compensation. Holly Foster, who lead the petition drive, researched 30 Maine towns: 10 towns just above Fryeburg’s population of 3,449 and 10 towns just below the population, plus 10 local towns. Her findings included: • Two towns have sevenmember town councilors. • Three towns have fivemember town councilors. • 22 towns have fivemember selectmen boards. • Three towns have threemember selectmen boards. • They all have town managers, except three. BOARD, Page 3A
BRING ON THE HOLIDAY SEASON! — Casco ushered in the holiday season last Friday night with a tree lighting at the Community Center, which included several Christmas selections played by the Lake Region band under the direction of Dr. Paul Greenstone. Above, Lucien Wallace plays a selected number. After the tree lighting, the crowd headed into the Casco Gym to watch youngsters from Mayberry Hill Preschool perform several numbers under the direction of Barbara Simpson. Welcoming the public to the show was Evan Duprey, who wore a festive outfit, just right for the occassion. (Rivet Photos)
Firefighters take on ‘Air Climb’
YOGA changed Amy Figoli’s life. Today, she is the owner of Threads of Yoga, with a studio on Main Street in Bridgton.
One on One with...
Amy Figoli
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Amy Figoli’s mid-life crisis came a bit early. At 41, she appeared to have it all. Silently, she was spiraling down the rabbit hole. Her growing ache of emptiness was becoming more than she could bear. A pain that was silent, but known by many. She no longer could keep the appearance of looking good on the outside, but experiencing emptiness inside. “This became exhausting,” she wrote on her Threads of Yoga website “About” page. Her descent continued and “became unbearable with little opportunity to recover.” So far down the rabbit hole of depression, she no longer had the energy to shift the wave that would soon swallow her whole. “One day, she rallied and went for a walk to talk with her constant companion (goddess/god/source higher then herself) and made a declaration. ‘I can not live the next 40 years of my life the way I have lived my first 40, please help me to find my place in service, move (me) through my sadness and may I be reminded that I am not separate from you.’ Within a matter of a week, she was led through a series of coincidences and encountered her first Yoga AMY, Page 8A
LOVELL — In a couple of months, Steve and Evan Armington will race up 82 flights of stairs so others can breathe easier. The Armingtons live in Lovell, Maine, a 3.5-hour drive from One Boston Place, where the American Lung Association’s Boston Fight For Air Climb presented by Boston Private will take place on Feb. 4, 2017. Despite the distance, the father-son duo decided to take on the challenge as representatives from the Lovell Volunteer Fire Department, which they both serve. Motivated by competition, community and their Aunt Jennifer, who is currently battling lung cancer, the team has become the event’s first place fundraiser. Evan, Steve’s 20-year-old son and fellow firefighter and climber, said, “We love these types of challenges, but we were also really inspired by our Aunt Jennifer, who is currently fighting lung cancer. We want her to know that she isn’t fighting alone — and
LOCAL HEROES TAKING ON LUNG ASSOCIATION CLIMB — Training and raising funds for the American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb Boston are Lovell firefighters (left to right) Steve Armington, Evan Armington and Mark Moulton. Pictured with team manager Beth Armington, the Lovell team currently is the leading fundraiser amongst over 100 fire departments that will take part in the Feb. 4, 2017 event. that we are going to help the Lung Association end lung cancer for good.” Steve’s Aunt, Jennifer Blood, is also a well-known
member of the Lovell community. The team — consisting of Steve, Evan and their Assistant Chief, Mark
Moulton — also gets support from fundraiser and coach, Beth Armington, Steve’s wife. CLIMB, Page 7A
the entire road. Road maintenance and paving is “one of those areas where we are underfunded,” Plummer said on Tuesday. “Now that we have the bond, I am panicked that we won’t rebuild that (budget) for the next 10 or 15 years,” he said. He said it was his belief that the road maintenance and paving accounts “are half funded right now.” “We could spend $500,000 or $600,000 in paving, that would allow us to do one road,” Plummer said. According to Casco Town
Manager Dave Morton, the town typically sets aside $300,000 for road maintenance — which includes the unexpected road failures, and $200,000 for paving. Because of the timing of Town Meeting, money
for paving is not approved and available until July 1. Therefore, paving projects usually happen in September. The Casco Board of Selectmen held two workshops on Tuesday evening ROAD, Page 7A
Board paves way for road budget By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — Casco Selectman Grant Plummer expressed his concerns about whether or not the public would support an annual budget for road maintenance and paving now that a $2 million roads repair bond is in place. After all, taxpayers will already be paying off the loan that will allow the Town of Casco to start rebuilding its most problematic roads. As was pointed out, some of those roads like Tenney Hill Road will have sections repaired rather than redoing
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