People in News Post Commander Mulcahy named to national council; Legislators get assignments Page 4A
Holiday happenings
Inside News
Community Kettle, caroling; Stuff the Truck for shelter; Hunt for the holiday tree
Classifieds . . . . . . . . 10A Country Living . . . 5A-6A Directory . . . . . . . . . 10A Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 9A
Pages 5A-6A
Opinions . . . . . . . 7A-9A Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Student News . . . . . . . . Games . . . . . . . . . . . . 8A Legal Notices . . . . . . . 8A
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870 Vol. 150, No. 51
12 PAGES - 1 Section
Bridgton, Maine
December 17, 2020
www.bridgton.com
(USPS 065-020)
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‘Covid is everywhere, nobody is safe’
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer As Americans experienced both relief and optimism as the Pfizer vaccine was shipped to hospitals across the country this week, Peter Wright joined other health officials warning the public to stay vigilant in the fight against Covid-19. “I realize it is a bit of doom and gloom, but I am not sure any longer how to pour the proverbial pitcher of cold water to wake and sober everyone up. We are not insulated any longer living in rural life. We are not insulated from Covid in any way. Covid is everywhere, and nobody is safe,” the Bridgton Hospital president told Harrison’s Selectboard via Zoom last Thursday night. “We have to maintain our vigilance on masking, social distancing, washing hands and limiting our social circles. I know of no other advice to give because
everything else that we’ve tried to do has not worked.” The Lake Region has seen Covid-19 numbers surge over the past few weeks, resulting in closure of town offices, businesses and schools (see related stories). According to the Maine CDC website, the “snapshot” of cases by zip code as of Dec. 6 were as follows: Bridgton — 16 Casco — 40 Harrison — 22 Naples — 70 Raymond — 39 Fryeburg — 15 The towns of Sebago, Brownfield, Lovell and Waterford had a case count ranging from 6 to 19, while Denmark’s number was 1 to 5. Bridgton officials decided this week that the town’s Transfer Station Store will be closed effective Dec. 19, due to Covid-19 restrictions, until further notice.
We are not insulated any longer living in a rural life. We are not insulated from Covid in any way, — Peter Wright, BH president Unfortunately, the surge is unfolding as health officials expected. “This is particularly concerning because leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday we could see this coming. We have
issued warnings, and pleaded with the public, and pleaded with the business communities around our region, really to not too much avail,” Wright told Harrison officials. “As predicted, we are now at a
peak of what would have been the Thanksgiving-based exposures. We are roughly 10 to 14 days post last day depending upon if it was a Thanksgiving Day exposure or an exposure that Sunday. The projections I’ve seen show that the peak won’t reach us until sometime Dec. 23 and the middle of the week, the first of the year. It is going to continue to climb and we’re continuing to go into a season that encourages travel, that encourages visits, that encourages deviations from the three basic steps that we’ve asked everybody to do, which is mask up, wash your hands and socially distance.” Wright credited the Bridgton Hospital team for remaining “incredibly diligent” during the pandemic. “They are doing an amazing job. I don’t hesitate to call the front-line workers heroes because it’s truly what they are. This has gone on lon-
Hotel decision to AB
Juggling funds to keep program By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Gary Colello knows the clock is ticking on whether the Rec Department will be able to continue to offer the emergency childcare program created in response to the pandemic. Money to pay staff and purchase supplies for enrichment projects provided under the CARES Act (up to $150,000) dries up on Dec. 31. Unless the federal government passes legislation to continue funding under the CARES Act, Colello is faced with possibly shutting down the program which currently services about 42 children. Colello developed the childcare program when he heard from many parents that they had no place to send their children on days when they were learning remotely. For many working parents, they either had trouble making arrangements for before, all day and after-school childcare, or simply lack the financial means to pay for those services. “Six out of 10 kids already qualified for free or reduced lunch in this town before we even heard of Covid-19,” Colello said. Since he had staff — which normally is reduced once the summer rec program ends — and facilities available, Colello created a solution for those families. Rec runs the childcare program from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. He charges $5 for “before” school care (7 to 8:30 a.m.) and $5 for after school care (3:30 to 6 p.m.). The all-day session expense is covered by federal emergency funding. The average attendance is between 20 to 25 students, usually consisting of the same group of children on certain days. “We have Cohort A (groupings that the school has set up) on certain days and Cohort B on certain days. Friday is a mixture. Parents understand that both cohorts are there on the same day. Whoever is comfortable with that has signed up,” Colello said. “We do the best we can to spread them out.” Maintaining social distancing requires keeping the number of children in groups on the low side, thus the need for at least five staff members. The program has been a success on many fronts, but most importantly, there have been no cases of Covid-19. “Kids and staff are masked all day, unless eating or drinking. They have their own space to eat; own containers; they wash their hands after each activity; and they PROGRAM, Page 12A
Towns to hire warden for lakes
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Hiring a warden might be the ticket for extra safety and enforcement on the lakes next summer. Recently, officials from the Town of Naples had a discussion with management from the towns of Bridgton and Harrison to see if there was an interest in budgeting to pay a warden. This summer, one of the biggest complaints was that the warden, who works for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, was spread too thin and often could not respond to boating problems on the local lakes and ponds. The solution would be the shared services of hiring an intern warden for $20,000, according to Naples Town Manager John Hawley. That cost would also be shared and each town would contribute about $6,000, he said. Hawley talked about the tri-town coverage during the Naples Board of Selectmen meeting via Zoom on November 30th. “Naples, Bridgton and Harrison town managers got WARDEN, Page 4A
ger than any mass casualty, any incident in our lifetime. We are learning how to deal with it,” he said. “It is indeed exhausting. We are continuing to carry on and do good work, and still be able to take care of the community as we always have. The things that keep me up at night are the endurance of my team, how I can keep them energized.” Wright noted that he spent his first holiday ever without his children. “It was perhaps one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do,” he said. Help is on the way. “Do I believe the vaccine will be effective? I have every reason to believe that it will. All of the clinical studies, which have met muster, show that this vaccine is extremely promising. Will we be able to vaccine everyone in a short period of time, we will not,” VIGILANT, Page 3A
IN THE BAG — At the Bridgton Bookstore, customer Matt McGuire stand next to the checkout counter with his purchases in the bag. Local shopping for the holidays has taken on new meaning during the pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Pam Ward)
Staying close to home for holiday shopping
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer Several shop owners in Bridgton feel appreciated when customers express the importance of supporting local businesses. More importantly, people have been putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to shopping local. After nine months of living through a worldwide pandemic, many consumers have shined a spotlight on supporting local businesses for their holiday shopping. That shopping comes in the form of walking in and finding the perfect item or ordering it Online and shipping it to people out-of-state. Shopping local cuts down on traveling and it helps to keep the dollars in the community. “There is definitely a movement to shop local. More so than any other year, people are trying to shop local. There seems to be
a real movement to shop at local, independent stores,” said Pam Ward, co-owner of Bridgton Books. “Customers come in and say they are glad we are here and they are glad to support us (versus the national chain bookstores).” Firefly Boutique’s Store Manager Charlie Simpson has seen a similar trend. “We have loyal customers who say, ‘We’re glad to see you’re open! No kidding, this is our favorite shop.’ Now and then, I get threatened with, ‘You better not close,’” Simpson said. Customers verbalize their decision to shop local, he said. “We hear that specifically that they’ve decided to shop local. No question about that,” Simpson said. Some shoppers still opt for the in-person SHOPPING, Page 2A
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Before the Bridgton Planning Board’s decision regarding whether “fill” is permissible in the Stream Protection Zone in the Hotel Bridgton plan heads back to Superior Court, it will make a pit stop. Attorney David Lourie, who represents Susan Hatch, Sigvard Von Sicard and Judy Von Sicard (Save Kennard Street), has filed an administrative appeal with the Town of Bridgton, claiming “an error was made in a decision by the Planning Board.” Code Enforcement Officer Brenda Day said the Appeals Board will take up Lourie’s appeal on Jan. 7. The board will review the Planning Board’s decision, and either support or reject it. Previously, the Appeals Board overturned the Planning Board’s approval of Hotel Bridgton, but developer Justin McIver appealed that decision and initially won in Superior Court. Sharon Abbott, who voted to overturn planners’ approval, has since resigned from the Appeals Board. Day said that vacancy has not been filled. Currently, the Appeals Board includes chairman John Schuettinger, vice chairman Mark Harmon, Bruce Hancock, Kevin Raday, Dick Danis and alternate Kappy Sprenger. Day suspects however the Appeals Board rules, the Hotel Bridgton project will likely again land on the Superior Court bench. In the administrative appeal, Lourie contends “The (Planning) Board failed to give credence to HOTEL, Page 2A
Casco Comp Plan long overdue By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — It’s been 13 years since Casco’s Comprehensive Plan has been updated. It appears that a revitalized comp plan could be on the horizon — a year or two from now. Earlier this month, Interim Town Manager Town Manager Don Gerrish asked the Casco selectmen to list the top needs of their town.
Almost everyone expressed a desire to take on the big project of doing a comprehensive plan to update the one done in the 1980s. “The key point here is your comp plan is the overlaying document that all ordinances and everything flows from. When you are out of sync and things needs to change, you really need an updated comp plan,” Gerrish said.
The goal of doing a comp plan is one that will take planning: both financially and logistically. This goal dovetails with the objective
to get more citizens involved as volunteers. After all, doing a comprehensive plan requires the involvement of PLAN, Page 11A
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