By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

HARRISON — Like many in the restaurant business, Chris Searles was looking forward to June when it appeared the Olde Mill Tavern would reopen.

Unfortunately, Covid-19 numbers jumped and Governor Janet Mills continued the lockout allowing eating establishments to remain take-out only.

So like others, Searles is moving the dining experience outdoors. He pitched the idea of placing picnic tables in the parking area adjacent to the restaurant to the Harrison Selectboard in a specially-called meeting Tuesday morning.

Calling the move “temporary,” Searles plans to place eight to 12 tables in a designated spot applying six-foot social distancing, which will include some type of barricade to protect patrons from vehicles, as well as signage. While uncertainty remains as to when the governor will allow reopening of sit-down dining, Searles asked officials to allow the arrangement to run to Oct. 15.

Searles pointed out that the Tavern already has four tables on a patio, but when the weather heats up, most patrons preferred inside seating and air conditioning. In Covid-19 times, customers will likely put up with the heat in exchange for a chance to get out and enjoy a sit-down meal. Searles added that he will use a bug repellant to address mosquitoes — the same non-toxic product used at a campground.

The bar will remain inside the Olde Mill Tavern, where there will be no sit-down service.

Because the outdoor seating will be on town property, insurance coverage will be needed.

Officials supported the idea, feeling it is a good example of the town partnering with businesses to find solutions in these challenging economic times.

Searles expects the outdoor dining area to be ready this week, and will likely be open from 4 to 8 p.m. He also hopes to bring in solo musicians to perform between 4 to 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Similar efforts have surfaced around the Lake Region, including:

• Both Bridgton House of Pizza and Beth’s Kitchen Café have placed small outdoor tables and chairs along the sidewalk. At Beth’s, tables are placed in a couple of parking spaces adjacent to the café.

During the take-out period, café owner Beth Doonan had the second floor of the building renovated for seating so she could adhere to the six-foot distancing requirement. But, the governor’s postponement of sit-down dining leaves the first and second floor seating area vacant, at the moment.

• Annette’s Country Skillet also added more outdoor seating at the Naples diner, setting up picnic tables, outfitted with umbrellas and tablecloths.

• Bridgton planners Tuesday night approved four more outside tables (on a temporary basis) to the Magic Lantern/Tannery Pub.

In Covid-19 times, adjustments made

As summer approaches and few scheduled events on the docket due to Covid-19, Crystal Lake Park will certainly be busy.

The question is, how can children and adults be kept safe while trying to use the park and beach?

A carefully designed plan (which was reviewed by the town’s attorney to be sure it adhered to all state and CDC guidelines) regarding the town’s summer rec program was unveiled by Town Manager Tim Pellerin and Rec Director Kayla Laird.

“I’m comfortable with it (the plan),” Pellerin told board members. “Our insurer said as long as it follows the state’s guidelines on day camps — we exceed it.”

The plan calls for:

• When parents arrive to drop children off, they will go to a designated sign-in spot. Children will then have their temperatures taken by Laird and assistant Mike Tobias.

• Campers will be placed in groups, and must stay with that group and the assigned counselor. Each group will have their own designated area.

• There will be no sharing of items — towels, lunch boxes, etc.

• There will be a medical tent, where children will be taken if any symptoms surface. If a child exhibits possible virus symptoms, the child must stay home for 24 hours and will need a doctor’s note to return; or the child can stay home 14 days and then return. The “sick tent” will be manned by Mike Tobias, who will receive “hazard pay” for handling this responsibility, Pellerin said.

• Campers will undergo Covid-19 training, learning what the symptoms are, how to prevent contracting the virus, and how to properly wash one’s hands.

• A sink has been installed on the side of the snack shack to allow more frequent (scheduled) handwashing. Hand sanitizer will be available, and parents may be asked to send sanitizer with their child, if possible.

• In year’s past, “older” campers were allowed to go to local stores at lunchtime. This year, all campers will stay on site. As a way to help local businesses, Laird plans to contact them to purchase pizza and sell it out of the snack shack.

• There will be no field trips this summer, but Laird plans to schedule “fun events” for Tuesdays.

• Staff will sanitize all equipment on a regular basis.

“This will be the cleanest our camp has ever been,” Laird said. “It’s not a bad thing.”

Laird reported that registration has been strong, including a proposal to start summer rec early — this coming Monday, June 8.

The cost to run the program per week is about $5,900. Money was saved by canceling field trips and swim instruction. To cover costs, the fee would be $100 extra per child per week and $80 for a second child per week. Laird said parents that she has spoken to had no issue with the added costs, many noting that they are set to go back to work and have had a tough time finding child care.

“I’ve received no negative feedback,” she said.

If they choose, parents can stick with their initial registration for eight weeks.

Because of isolation brought on by Covid-19, Laird sees this year’s rec camp as more important than in previous summers.

“Kids are forgetting how to socialize. It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “This (separation created by Covid-19) has been scary for us, I wonder what their little minds are thinking about this?”

The selectboard approved the rec plan, including adding the two weeks onto the program.

Earlier, Pellerin sought input from the selectboard regarding rental of the park gazebo. The town rents the gazebo at $25 plus $5 per hour that the facility is used.

Officials will rent the gazebo, but with conditions — renters agree to follow CDC guidelines that call for six-foot social distancing and no more than 50 people in a group.

Selectboard member Penny Bean noted that the annual Scribner family gathering, which usually numbers more than 50 people, will likely be canceled this year.

“It will be a hard thing for us to do this year. Staying six-feet apart is just not going to be possible,” she said. “People need to be responsible for themselves.”

Pellerin did warn that if “it gets out of control” in regards to people failing to abide by CDC guidelines, he could close the area (under public emergency powers).

Pellerin noted that the public bathroom is open, somewhat out of necessity.

“People were urinating all over the place. It was getting pretty gross,” Pellerin said.

Signage informs the public that the bathroom facility is sanitized twice a day, and use is at “one’s own risk.”

Selectboard member Rick Sykes voiced concerns regarding seeing in previous years buses or vans pulling into the Crystal Lake Park parking lot and unloading 100 or so kids.

Rec Director Kayla Laird said those buses and vans usually come from private summer camps, which do have their own lake frontage. Laird added that the beach area used by the summer rec program is roped off to separate from the general public.

“We haven’t had any problems in the past,” Laird said. “People have been respectful.”

Due to current conditions, no buses will be allowed.

Pellerin wondered how many area camps will run summer sessions due to the pandemic? He did speak with one camp official, who said the facility will be open but with a very different approach. For one, there will be no international campers or counselors. Secondly, once youngsters and counselors arrive onto the property, they will not be permitted to leave until the session is over. There will be a two-week and a five-week session. There will be two doctors on site, testing will be available, and isolation methods will be in place if sickness occurs.

In other business

To close out Tuesday’s virtual meeting, Pellerin touched on:

• When renovations are done to the town office, a HVAC system is in the plan to improve air quality. Initial cost projection is $50,000.

• Budget expenditures for the fiscal year, which closes this month, went from 89% to 90.43% as of Tuesday.

• Revenue was at 79.92% last week, and jumped to 86.98 Tuesday.

• Taxes outstanding dipped from $351,968 to $274,457.